DE102020132650B4 - ELECTRONIC HOUSING FOR ONE HUB TO CONTROL SEVERAL ACTUATORS - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub for controlling a number of sensors and/or actuators, comprising a housing (2), a support plate (3), a sealing element (4) and a number of connections (5) for connecting the electronics in Housing (2) with the multiple sensors and/or actuators, characterized in that the multiple connections (5) are attached to the support plate (3), that the support plate (3) is arranged on the inside or the outside of the housing (2). and the carrier plate (3) is fastened to the housing (2) via fastening screws (7), that a housing wall has a bore (10) for each of the several connections (5) through which the several connections (5) can pass, that between the carrier plate (3) and the housing (2) the sealing element (4) is arranged, that the sealing element (4) is designed as a flat body, and that the flat body encloses each bore (10) of the several connections (5).

Description

The invention relates to a housing for a network distributor or hub for controlling a plurality of actuators according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Housings for electrical circuits are already known to a large extent from practice. For example, housings with electronics for a network distributor or hub are used as a connection between a system controller and several actuators. The actuators are connected to the electronics inside the housing via connections that are attached to the housing. The attachment of the connector to the housing and the sealing are carried out individually for each connector.

From the DE 44 37 316 A1 an electronics housing with connections is known, for example for a bus connection and input/output signal lines. The housing has openings which are designed for the passage of several connections. From the DE 202 18 223 U1 and the DE 299 15 886 U1 other electronics housings are known, with no seal being provided between the terminals and the housing.

From the DE 91 00 962 U1 an electronics housing with a stepped housing is known.

From the DE 299 06 707 U1 discloses a multi-part housing for connecting actuators and/or sensors with a recess for accommodating a flat cable.

From the DE 88 00 039 U1 a plug-in distribution box with several pluggable input/output modules is known.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved electronics housing that is easier to handle for a network distributor or hub that is suitable for industrial use and that provides reliable sealing while being easy to handle and have simple connection options. In particular, the electronics housing should be easy to manufacture and assemble.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an electronics housing for a network distributor and/or hub for controlling a plurality of actuators according to the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, an electronics housing for a network distributor and/or hub for controlling a plurality of sensors and/or actuators is proposed. The electronics housing for a network distributor and/or hub for controlling multiple sensors and/or actuators includes a housing, a support plate, a sealing element and multiple connections for connecting the electronics in the housing to the multiple sensors and/or actuators. It is essential that the multiple connections are fastened to the support plate, that the support plate is arranged on the inside or the outside of the housing and that the support plate is fastened to the housing using fastening screws, that a housing wall has a bore for each of the multiple connections Penetration of the multiple connections has that the sealing element is arranged between the carrier plate and the housing, that the sealing element is designed as a flat body, and that the flat body encloses each bore of the multiple connections.

An advantage of the housing according to the invention is that by screwing the support plate to a housing wall on the inside or outside of the housing, the multiple connections in the housing are simultaneously securely mounted and the seal for all connections is ensured by the sealing element. The screwing of the carrier plate thus ensures both simple and at the same time secure assembly and secure sealing in a limited installation space. It is not necessary to open the housing to establish the connection between the hub and drives/sensors.

Provision can be made for an electronic module or several electronic modules to be accommodated within the housing, which ensure the distribution of digital signals or bus signals between the connections and/or between the connections and a higher-level network or a higher-level interface or control level.

It can be provided that the housing has bores and/or blind holes for the fastening screws. Provision can be made for the fastening screws to be arranged from the outside and/or from the inside for fastening the support plate to the housing and/or for the fastening screws to pass through the housing from the outside and/or inside. It can be provided that bores and/or blind holes have threads.

It can be provided that the fastening screws are electrically conductive and have an electrical contact for grounding the connections from the housing via the support plate to the plurality make connections. Due to the contact of the screws with the housing for fastening the carrier plate and the fastening of the connections on the carrier plate, the screw connection can simultaneously ensure that all connections are grounded with the housing via the screws and the carrier plate.

Provision can be made for the carrier plate to be designed as part of a cover for the housing.

Provision can be made for the sealing element to consist entirely or partially of rubber, Teflon, silicone, caoutchouc, or fluorocarbon caoutchouc (FKM) or plastic.

It can be provided that the sealing element is designed as a sealing plate.

Provision can be made for the sealing element to have bores or openings for the several connections and the fastening screws to pass through, preferably having bores, stampings or openings which are aligned with the carrier plate.

Provision can be made for the sealing element to be designed in such a way that the sealing element forms at least one ring around each bore opening of the housing for passing through the multiple connections and for the fastening screws.

It can be provided that the sealing element is designed in one piece and seals all bore openings of the housing on the housing wall, or that several sealing elements are provided which seal one or more openings of the housing on the housing wall.

Provision can be made for indentations to be formed in the support plate and/or the housing in order to partially accommodate the sealing element. A design of this type can ensure that the sealing element is placed securely between the support plate and the housing during the connection.

Provision can be made for the connections to be fastened, preferably screwed, to the support plate via a screw connection. Provision can be made for the connections to be plugged into the support plate during assembly of the housing, before this is connected to the inner wall of the housing. In particular, the connections are designed as multi-pin sockets or have multi-pin sockets.

The housing can have one or two or more carrier plates, with each carrier plate holding a number of connections, in particular holding four connections. The sealing element can be designed as a single sealing element. However, several sealing elements can also be provided corresponding to the number of several carrier plates, with one sealing element being assigned to one carrier plate.

Provision can be made for a further sealing ring to be provided between the carrier plate and one or more connections.

Provision can be made for a plurality of connections to be formed on a carrier plate. In particular, at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve or more connections can be formed on the carrier plate.

It can be provided that a digital field bus or a digital point-to-point connection, in particular an industrial -Ethernet or IO-Link, or another communication interface, as well as a power supply for a sensor, an actuator is performed. In particular, the power supply can provide a current of up to 8A per connection, preferably up to 1A or up to 2A or up to 4A or up to 6A or up to 8A.

Provision can be made for the connections to be in the form of plug-in connections. In particular, it is provided that the support plate of the housing carries the sockets of the plug-in connections into which complementary plugs can be inserted. In particular, the plug-in connections are sealed against dust and/or water. In particular, the connections are IP 54, IP 20, IP 67 class. In particular, the terminals are made watertight without a lead attached to the terminals or with a lead attached to the terminals.

The plug-in connections can preferably be in the form of multi-pin M12 plugs and/or M8 plugs.

The advantage here is that both the power supply and the necessary digital data connection to a consumer or user or bus user can be established with a single plug connection.

It can be provided that the housing has a stepped outer contour on the housing side of the connections. A stepped height of the housing is to be understood with a stepped outer contour hen, ie that the housing has a second, rearwardly offset level, wherein the levels inside the housing can be open or separated by an intermediate wall. The stepped housing forms at least two gradient areas and at least two tread areas. In particular, the connections can be arranged on the at least two different levels. This means that the connections are offset from one another on the housing in terms of height and width. Space can thus be saved, in particular in the width of the housing, without the accessibility of a connection or a plug suffering.

Provision can be made for the multiple connections to be distributed over the two gradient areas of the stepped housing. This enables better plug-in or screw access to the connections, since these are offset to the rear in the housing. One advantage is that the multiple ports have multiple, i.e. H. precisely or more than 4 or more than 6 or more than 8 consumers, in particular sensors, or actuators can be connected without the housing having to be opened. The stepped housing means that a small housing can be used for a large number of connections.

Provision can be made for the housing to be made of metal, or of cast aluminum, or of an aluminum alloy, or of a plastic. In particular, the housing is sealed against dust and/or water ingress. In particular, the connections are designed as IP 54, IP 20, IP 67 classes. In particular, the terminals are made watertight without a lead attached to the terminals or with a lead attached to the terminals. As a result, the electronics housing or the network distributor with the electronics housing can also be used in mechanically demanding environments.

Provision can be made for a fuse to be configured in the housing for the power supply routed via one or more connection or connections, in order to protect the lines and/or consumers connected to a connection against currents that are too high.

In particular, a network distributor and/or hub is arranged in the housing in order to connect all participants connected to the connections of the housing to a higher-level bus system or a higher-level interface or control level or system control.

For this purpose it can be provided that the housing has a bus interface or an interface for connection to a higher-level bus system or higher-level interface or higher-level control level. A bus communication module for communication with a higher-level system control can be integrated in the housing, preferably connected via Ethernet.

It can be provided that one or more IO-Link masters and/or one or more IO-Link transceivers for controlling the actuators are configured in the housing.

It can be provided that the multiple actuators are supplied with power via the electronics in the housing and/or the multiple actuators are grounded via the electronics in the housing or the housing.

The housing can have a connection for a power supply via an external power pack. Alternatively or in addition, the housing can also have an internal power pack for supplying the components arranged in the housing and the loads connected via the connections. The current can be distributed to the connections of the housing via current distributors or busbars or printed circuit boards arranged in the housing. Electrical power of up to 1000W can preferably be distributed to the multiple connections of the housing.

Provision can be made for the housing to have programmable control electronics and/or one or more CPUs and/or one or more microprocessors for application control, preferably in order to transmit the signals from the system control via the bus communication module to sensors or actuators and/or or to enable the receipt of sensors or actuators to or from the IO-Link master.

It can be provided that a control module for controlling the actuators is provided in the housing. This enables the actuators to be controlled either via the higher-level bus system, or the higher-level interface, or the higher-level control level, or the control module. In order to enable manual control, the control module can have an operating and display device. The operating and display device can preferably have one or more keys or controllers or rotary controls as an input unit, and/or the display device can have one or more LEDs or alphanumeric displays or a display. Alternatively or additionally, the operating and Display device also have a touch-sensitive display, in particular a touch screen. Provision can be made for the multiple actuators to be controlled via an external control device, preferably for the external control device to be connected to the electronics in the housing via a plug-in connection or a radio link.

Provision can be made for the several actuators to be in the form of actuators or positioning systems or as format adjustments. Format adjustments are used, for example, to adjust a planer knife by a few tenths of a millimeter on woodworking machines, or in packaging technology, format adjustments are used, for example, to adjust folding devices for boxes, to position pressure rollers, to label boxes or for ejectors at the end of the system used.

Provision can be made for the actuators connected to the housing to send a position report and/or an error message and/or status information such as temperature data to the control module and/or the application controller via the bus system or the interface or control level. The control module and/or the application control can use the position report and/or the error message to detect a correct function or a malfunction of the actuators. In the event of a malfunction or an error message, the control module and/or the application controller can stop the relevant actuators. In addition, the control module and/or the application controller can send a message to a higher-level system controller.

According to the invention, a network distributor and/or hub for connecting participants or bus participants of a fieldbus, for example sensors and actuators, to a higher-level system controller or a higher-level bus with a housing according to one of the embodiments described above is also provided. In particular, the network distributor is designed as an IO-Link hub for connecting at least 8 actuators. The network distributor is preferably designed as an active network distributor and/or as an active hub. This means that the active network distributor and/or the active hub supplies the connected participants or bus participants with power. In particular, the network distributor and/or hub is used to connect multiple IO-Link participants, such as sensors or actuators, to a higher-level Ethernet bus.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments.

• 1 Explosionszeichnung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Elektronikgehäuses;
• 2 Seitenansicht der Explosionszeichnung aus 1 mit Darstellung der Schnittlinie;
• 3 Schnittdarstellung der Anschlüsse 6 bis 8 aus 2;
• 4 schematische Darstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsmäßen Elektronikgehäuses mit gestuftem Gehäuse;
• 5 Schematische Darstellung der Innenansicht des Elektronikgehäuses aus 4.

show:

• 1 Exploded view of a first embodiment of the electronics housing according to the invention;
• 2 side view of the exploded view 1 with representation of the cutting line;
• 3 Sectional view of connections 6 to 8 2 ;
• 4 schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of the electronics housing according to the invention with a stepped housing;
• 5 Schematic representation of the interior of the electronics housing 4 .

The embodiments described in the figures and the following description of the figures represent advantageous configurations and should not be understood as restrictive. The person skilled in the art can modify the embodiments shown within the scope of the technical teaching defined by the claims, or combine the examples shown with one another without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the figures, parts or components that are the same or have the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols.

1 shows an exploded view of the electronics housing 1, consisting of a housing 2 in which a support plate 3 and a sealing element 4 are arranged. 2 shows the electronics housing 1 of 1 in side view, with in 2 the section height of the section representation from the 3 is drawn.

The support plate 3 has several support plate openings 6 in which connections 5 for connecting the electronics (not shown) in the electronics housing 1 to the actuators are arranged. In the embodiment of 1 , 2 and 3 the connections 5 pass through the carrier plate 3 and are fixed by a step in the carrier plate opening 6 and a threaded nut on the back of the carrier plate 3. Furthermore, the support plate 3 has threaded holes 8 through which the support plate 3 is fastened to the inside of the housing 2 with fastening screws 7 .

The sealing element 4 is arranged between the carrier plate 3 and the housing 2 . In the embodiment of 1 , 2 and 3 the sealing element 4 is designed as a rectangular flat body. Next are corresponding to the support plate openings 6 and the threaded hole gene 8, in the sealing element 4, sealing element openings 9 are formed. The housing 2 has housing wall bores 10 corresponding to these openings, through which the connections 5 and the screws 7 pass.

In the embodiment of 1 , 2 and 3 For example, the support plate 3 is fixed to the inside of the housing 2 from the outside with a plurality of fixing screws 7 with the sealing member 4 interposed therebetween. The contact of the fastening screws 7 with the housing 2 and the support plate 3 establishes an electrical contact for grounding between these two elements. Furthermore, the electrical contact between the connections 5 and the support plate 4 ensures electrical contact for grounding between these two elements. This results in grounding between the housing 2 and the connections 5 through the fastening screws 7 and the arrangement of the connections 5 in the carrier plate 3.

the 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the electronics housing 1 according to the invention, wherein 4 shows a three-dimensional representation, and 5 the rear view with the housing cover open 4 indicates.

the 4 and 5 differ from the 1 , 2 and 3 only in that the housing 2 is formed as a stepped housing 2. The stepped housing 2 forms in the embodiment of 4 and 5 two incline areas and two tread areas. Four connections 5 are arranged in each of the gradient areas. Due to the stepped training, the embodiment of the 4 and 5 on the inside two support plates 3, which are fastened with fastening screws 7 on the inside of the housing and on which the connections 5 are arranged. A sealing element 4 is arranged between the two carrier plates 3 and the housing 2 .

Reference List

1

electronics housing

2

Housing

3

backing plate

4

sealing element

5

connection

6

carrier plate opening

7

mounting screw

8th

threaded hole

9

sealing element opening

10

housing wall drilling

Claims (20)

Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub for controlling a number of sensors and/or actuators, comprising a housing (2), a support plate (3), a sealing element (4) and a number of connections (5) for connecting the electronics in Housing (2) with the multiple sensors and/or actuators, characterized in that the multiple connections (5) are attached to the support plate (3), that the support plate (3) is arranged on the inside or the outside of the housing (2). and the carrier plate (3) is fastened to the housing (2) via fastening screws (7), that a housing wall has a bore (10) for each of the several connections (5) through which the several connections (5) can pass, that between the carrier plate (3) and the housing (2) the sealing element (4) is arranged, that the sealing element (4) is designed as a flat body, and that the flat body encloses each bore (10) of the several connections (5). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub claim 1 , characterized in that within the housing (2) one or more electronic modules are accommodated, which the distribution of digital signals or bus signals between the connections (5) to one another and/or between the connections (5) and a higher-level network or a higher-level interface or ensure control level. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has bores and/or blind holes for the fastening screws (7), preferably that the fastening screws (7) are screwed in from the outside and/or or are arranged from the inside to fasten the carrier plate (3) to the housing (2) and/or that the fastening screws (7) pass through the housing (2) from the outside and/or inside. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening screws (7) are electrically conductive and have an electrical contact for grounding the connections (5) from the housing (2) via the carrier plate (3 ) to the multiple connections (5). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and / or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Support plate (3) is designed as part of a cover for the housing (2). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element (4) consists entirely or partially of rubber, Teflon, silicone, rubber or fluorocarbon rubber (FKM) or plastic. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing element (4) is designed as a sealing plate. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that depressions are formed in the support plate (3) and/or the housing (2) in order to partially accommodate the sealing element (4). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections (5) are fastened, preferably screwed, to the carrier plate (3) via a screw connection. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has one or two or more support plates (3), each support plate (3) holding a plurality of connections (5), in particular four connections (5) supports. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that via each of the two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve or more connections (5 ) a digital fieldbus or a digital point-to-point connection, in particular a Profibus Industrial Ethernet or IO-Link, or another communication interface, and a power supply for a sensor or an actuator is performed. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has a stepped outer contour on the housing side of the connections (5). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub claim 12 , characterized in that the stepped housing forms at least two slope areas and at least two tread areas, and that the plurality of terminals (5) are distributed over the two slope areas of the stepped housing (2). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the power supply routed via one or more connections (5) there is a fuse in the housing (2) per connection (5) in order to to protect lines and/or consumers connected to a connection (5) against currents that are too high. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a network distributor and/or hub is arranged in the housing (2) in order to connect all of the connections (5) of the housing (2). To connect participants with a higher-level bus system or a higher-level interface or control level or system control. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the several actuators and/or sensors are supplied with power via the electronics in the housing (2), and/or the several drives and/or Sensors can be grounded via the electronics in the housing (2) or via the housing (2). Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) preferably has programmable control electronics and/or one or more CPUs and/or one or more microprocessors for application control to enable the system control signals via the bus communication module to be passed on to sensors or actuators and/or to be received from sensors or actuators to or from the IO-Link master. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control module for controlling the actuators is provided in the housing (2), it being preferably provided that the plurality of actuators are each used as an actuating drive or as a positioning system or are designed as a format adjustment. Electronics housing (1) for a network distributor and/or hub according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug connections are designed as multi-pin M12 plugs and/or M8 plugs. Network distributor and/or hub with an electronics housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network distributor is designed as an active network distributor, such that in the electronics housing (1) there is a power pack for supplying the several actuators and/or sensors with electrical Current is drawn and / or that the housing has a connection for connecting an external power supply unit for supplying the plurality of sensors and / or actuators with electrical power.

Images