DE102021122565A1 - Method for manufacturing a field device for automation technology - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for producing a field device for automation technology, having the following steps: - providing a sensor assembly (40); - providing sensor and/or actuator electronics (30); - providing connection electronics (20); - providing a field device housing which is at least partially has a substantially second rotationally symmetrical area and which has a housing opening in a side wall area for receiving or inserting a field contact plug;- attaching the field device housing to the sensor assembly, whereby these are not connected to one another, so that they can rotate or turn relative to one another;- Introducing the sensor and/or actuator electronics;- Attaching or plugging in the rigid mating connector of the connection electronics into the rigid connector of the sensor and/or actuator electronics and preferably simultaneously- introducing the field contact plug of the connection electronics into the housing opening of the field device housing;- introducing a sleeve into the housing opening of the field device housing;- joining the field device housing to the sensor assembly housing.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a field device for automation technology and a field device for automation technology obtainable by the method.

Field devices that are used in industrial plants are known from the prior art. Field devices are often used in process automation technology as well as in production automation technology. In principle, all devices that are used close to the process and that supply or process process-relevant information are referred to as field devices. Thus, field devices are used to record and/or influence process variables. Measuring devices or sensors are used to record process variables. These are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow rate measurement, etc. and record the corresponding process variables pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, fill level, flow rate, etc. Actuators are used to influence process variables. These are, for example, pumps or valves that can influence the flow of a liquid in a pipe or the fill level in a container. In addition to the measuring devices and actuators mentioned above, field devices also include remote I/Os, wireless adapters or devices in general that are arranged at the field level.

A large number of such field devices are produced and sold by the Endress+Hauser Group.

In the case of hygienic processes, particularly high demands are placed on their processing and/or cleanliness. Examples of such a hygienic process are applications in the food industry, where there is a risk that deposits and/or contaminants will impair the shelf life and/or lead to contamination of food that is harmful to health.

In order to meet these requirements, the housings of the field devices are specially designed. For example, they are made of a metallic material, such as 316L stainless steel, and/or designed to minimize the number of places for debris and/or contaminants to adhere.

To connect such field devices, for example to a higher-level unit, field contact plugs are usually used, which are placed in the housing. Data, in particular measured values, and/or energy can be transmitted from the field device to an external unit, for example the superordinate unit, via the field contact plug. Field contact plugs usually have a latching lug or similarly designed mechanical positioning aids, via which a corresponding mating plug that is plugged onto the field contact plug is aligned or positioned.

In today's field devices, such field contact plugs are not aligned in a defined manner, so that corresponding mating plugs from field device to field device always assume a different position when plugged in. This is disadvantageous in that when the field device is replaced in an automation system, the wiring often has to be changed since it was matched to the field contact plug of the field device to be replaced. In the simplest case, this means that the existing cable only needs to be realigned. In the worst case, however, it can also mean that the cable has to be lengthened or laid entirely new if the length of the existing cable is no longer sufficient due to the new orientation of the field contact connector or the mating connector.

In order to ensure that the orientation of the field contact connector is always the same when a field device is replaced, the housing of the field device must be aligned and mounted to match a sensor assembly that includes the process connection.

In the simplest case, this is done optically by a production employee of the field device manufacturer. However, the optical alignment is error-prone on the one hand and not particularly precise on the other.

The invention is therefore based on the object of demonstrating a possibility of how field devices can be manufactured in such a way that the orientation of the respective field contact plug is always the same.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the method according to patent claim 1 and the field device according to patent claim 7.

• - Bereitstellen einer Sensorbaugruppe umfassend ein, insbesondere metallisches Sensorbaugruppengehäuse mit einem zumindest abschnittsweise im Wesentlichen ersten rotationssymmetrischen Bereich, ein in oder an dem Sensorbaugruppengehäuse befestigtes Sensor- und/oder Aktorelement zum Erfassen und/oder Stellen einer Prozessgröße und einen endseitig an dem Sensorbaugruppengehäuse angebrachter Prozessanschluss mit einem Gewinde, welches ein Gewindeanfang und ein Gewindeende aufweist;
• - Bereitstellen einer Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik zum Bereitstellen und/oder Aufbereiten eines Aktor- und/oder Sensorsignals mit einem starren Steckverbinder zum elektrischen und mechanischen Verbinden der Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik;
• - Bereitstellen einer Anschlusselektronik mit einem zu dem starren Steckverbinder passenden starren Gegensteckverbinder und einem Feldkontaktstecker, wobei der starre Steckverbinder der Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik, der Gegensteckverbinder und der Feldkontaktstecker definiert zueinander ausgerichtet sind;
• - Bereitstellen eines, insbesondere metallischen Feldgerätegehäuses, welches zumindest abschnittsweise einen im Wesentlichen zweiten rotationssymmetrischen Bereich aufweist und welches in einem Seitenwandbereich eine Gehäuseöffnung zur Aufnahme bzw. Einbringung eines Feldkontaktsteckers aufweist;
• - Aufstecken des Feldgerätegehäuses mit dem zweiten rotationssymmetrischen Bereich auf den ersten rotationssymmetrischen Bereich des Sensorbaugruppengehäuses, wobei das Feldgerätegehäuse und das Sensorbaugruppengehäuse nicht miteinander verbunden werden, sodass diese relativ zueinander rotieren bzw. drehen können;
• - Einbringen der Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik in das Sensorbaugruppengehäuse und/oder Feldgerätegehäuse derartig, dass der starre Steckverbinder mit einer definierten Orientierung zumindest zu dem Gewindeende des Prozessanschlusses ausgerichtet ist;
• - Aufstecken bzw. Einstecken des starren Gegensteckverbinders der Anschlusselektronik in den starren Steckverbinder der Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik, so dass sich die Anschlusselektronik und die Sensor- und/oder Aktorelektronik zueinander ausrichten bzw. positionieren und vorzugsweise gleichzeitiges
• - Einbringen des Feldkontaktsteckers der Anschlusselektronik in die Gehäuseöffnung des Feldgerätegehäuses, so dass sich das Feldgerätegehäuse und das Sensorbaugruppengehäuse zueinander ausrichten bzw. positionieren;
• - Einbringen einer zu dem Feldkontaktstecker passenden Hülse in die Gehäuseöffnung des Feldgerätegehäuses;
• - Fügen, insbesondere Schweißen des Feldgerätegehäuses mit dem Sensorbaugruppengehäuse.

The method according to the invention for producing a field device for automation technology provides the following steps:

• - Providing a sensor assembly comprising a, in particular metallic sensor assembly housing with an at least partially substantially first rotationally symmetrical area, a sensor and / or actuator element mounted in or on the sensor assembly housing for detecting and / or setting a process variable and a Process connection attached to the end of the sensor assembly housing and having a thread, which has a thread start and a thread end;
• - Providing a sensor and / or actuator electronics for providing and / or processing an actuator and / or sensor signal with a rigid connector for electrical and mechanical connection of the sensor and / or actuator electronics;
• - Providing connection electronics with a rigid mating connector matching the rigid plug connector and a field contact plug, the rigid plug connector of the sensor and/or actuator electronics, the mating connector and the field contact plug being aligned with one another in a defined manner;
• providing a field device housing, in particular a metal one, which at least in sections has a substantially second rotationally symmetrical area and which has a housing opening in a side wall area for receiving or inserting a field contact plug;
• - Attaching the field device housing with the second rotationally symmetrical area to the first rotationally symmetrical area of the sensor assembly housing, wherein the field device housing and the sensor assembly housing are not connected to one another, so that they can rotate or turn relative to one another;
• - Introducing the sensor and / or actuator electronics in the sensor assembly housing and / or field device housing such that the rigid connector is aligned with a defined orientation at least to the threaded end of the process connection;
• - Plugging or plugging in the rigid mating connector of the connection electronics in the rigid connector of the sensor and / or actuator electronics, so that the connection electronics and the sensor and / or actuator electronics align or position each other and preferably simultaneously
• - Introducing the field contact plug of the connection electronics into the housing opening of the field device housing, so that the field device housing and the sensor assembly housing are aligned or positioned with respect to one another;
• - Insertion of a sleeve that fits the field contact plug into the housing opening of the field device housing;
• - Joining, in particular welding, of the field device housing with the sensor assembly housing.

According to the invention, a manufacturing method for a field device in automation technology is proposed, in which the field device housing is initially not firmly connected to the sensor assembly housing, but rather loosely, so that they can still be rotated or twisted relative to one another. It is also proposed to design the electronics to be installed in the field device housing and/or the sensor assembly housing, which consists of several printed circuit boards, in such a way that the individual printed circuit boards are mechanically and electrically connected to one another via a rigid plug connection and the sensor and/or actuator electronics are connected to a defined orientation is aligned at least to the threaded end of the process connection, so that by rotating the field device housing and the sensor assembly housing and the rigidly designed connector(s), the field contact plug is always aligned in the same way to the threaded end.

An advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that a round plug, in particular an M12 round plug or an Ethernet plug, is used as the field contact plug.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the sensor assembly and/or the field device housing is provided with a mechanical positioning aid and the rigid plug connector is aligned by the mechanical positioning aid with the defined orientation to the start of the thread of the process connection. In particular, the embodiment can provide for the rigid plug connector to be aligned by clipping or screwing it into or onto the mechanical positioning aid.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that intermediate electronics, in particular in the form of main electronics for further processing and/or compensating for the actuator and/or sensor signal, are provided, with the intermediate electronics having a further rigid plug connector and a further rigid mating plug connector and the rigid mating connector of the connection electronics is not plugged into the rigid connector of the sensor and/or actuator electronics, but rather the other rigid connector of the intermediate electronics and the rigid mating connector of the intermediate electronics is plugged into the rigid connector of the sensor and/or actuator electronics, so that the connection electronics, align or position the sensor and/or actuator electronics and the intermediate electronics to one another.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that an electronics cup is provided, which is introduced into the field device housing before the sensor and/or actuator electronics are introduced into the sensor assembly housing and/or field device housing.

The invention also relates to a field device for automation technology that can be obtained by the method according to one of the previously described embodiments.

• 1: eine Sensorbaugruppe, die zum Herstellen eines Feldgeräts üblicherweise verwendet wird,
• 2: eine Anschlusselektronik mit einem Feldkontaktstecker,
• 3: exemplarisch den Verfahrensschritt bei dem das Feldgerätegehäuse auf das Sensorbaugruppengehäuse aufgesteckt wird,
• 4: exemplarisch den Verfahrensschritt bei dem die innere Elektronik des Feldgerätes durch starre Steckverbindungen aufgebaut wird,
• 5: exemplarisch den Verfahrensschritt bei dem die Hülse über den Feldkontaktstecker geschoben wird, und
• 6: exemplarisch ein fertig hergestelltes Feldgerät.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings. It shows:

• 1 : a sensor assembly commonly used to construct a field device,
• 2 : a connection electronics with a field contact plug,
• 3 : an example of the process step in which the field device housing is plugged onto the sensor assembly housing,
• 4 : as an example of the process step in which the internal electronics of the field device are set up using rigid plug connections,
• 5 : an example of the process step in which the sleeve is pushed over the field contact plug, and
• 6 : a finished field device as an example.

1 shows a sensor assembly 40, which has a sensor assembly housing 41, a sensor and/or actuator element for detecting and/or setting a process variable 43, and a process connection 44 with a thread 45 for screwing into a corresponding sleeve, which is e.g. on a tank or a pipeline is fixed.

The sensor assembly housing 41 is preferably metallic and has at least one essentially rotationally symmetrical area 42 to which it is fixed with a housing of a field device 12 in the course of the manufacturing process.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the sensor and/or actuator element 43 comprises a pressure sensor element for detecting a pressure value as a process variable. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to the type or specific configuration of the sensor and/or actuator element 43 as a pressure sensor element, but can in principle be transferred to any other sensor or actuator principle.

Sensor and/or actuator electronics 43, which have at least one printed circuit board, are used to provide and/or process a sensor and/or actuator signal 1 illustrated embodiment is already fixed to the sensor assembly or introduced into the sensor assembly housing. The sensor and actuator electronics 30 also have a rigid plug connector 32 mounted on the printed circuit board 31, which is used both for electrical contact and for mechanical fixation.

As previously mentioned, the process connection 44 attached at the end to the sensor assembly housing 40 has the thread 45 for screwing into the sleeve. The thread 45 in turn has a thread start 46a and a thread end 46b, which in 1 illustrated embodiment are each identified by a circle.

2 shows a connection electronics 20 with a first printed circuit board 25 with a field contact plug 21 which is arranged in a longitudinal axis of the printed circuit board 25 on a printed circuit board edge. The field contact plug 21 transmits data, in particular measured values, and/or energy from the field device 10 to an external unit, for example a higher-level unit or another field device.

The field contact plug 21 can in particular be a circular connector, for example an M12 circular connector. However, it can also be a matter of other common plug connectors that are suitable for transmitting data and/or energy. For example, it can also be an Ethernet plug. The field contact plug 21 has a plug-in orientation that defines the orientation or alignment of a mating connector plugged into the field contact plug. The plug-in orientation can be realized, for example, by a lug or the like in or on the field contact plug 21 .

The connection electronics 20 also includes at least one rigid mating connector 22, which can be arranged and attached to the first printed circuit board 25 in such a way that a plug-in axis 23 is inclined or tilted to a main plane in which the first printed circuit board 25 is formed. Furthermore, electronic components for EMC and/or explosion protection measures 24 can be applied to the first printed circuit board 25 .

The rigid connector 32 of the sensor and / or actuator electronics 30 and the Gegensteckver binder 22 of the connection electronics 20 are designed in such a way that they enter into a rigid and immovable connection when plugged in.

According to the invention, the sensor assembly 40, the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 and the connection electronics 20 are now to be introduced into a field device housing 12 or attached to it in such a way that the threaded end 46b is always aligned in a defined manner with the field contact plug 21, so that even after a Field device replacement in an automation system ensures that the field contact plug of the newly installed field device has the same orientation as that of the removed field device.

For this purpose, in a first method step, the field device housing 12 is plugged with a rotationally symmetrical area 17 onto the first rotationally symmetrical area 42 of the sensor assembly housing 40 . The rotationally symmetrical areas of the field device housing and the sensor assembly 17 and 42 are matched to one another in such a way that they can be plugged into one another closely but can still be rotated or twisted relative to one another. In contrast to the usual production method, the field device housing 12 and the sensor assembly housing 41 are not yet joined to one another in this method step. This process step is shown in an example in 3 shown.

In a next method step, the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 are introduced into the sensor assembly housing 41 and/or field device housing 12 in such a way that the rigid plug connector 32 is aligned with a defined orientation at least to the threaded end 46b of the process connection 44. This method step can take place either before the first method step or after the first method step. As an aid for defined orientation, for example, latching lugs 47 can be provided in or on the sensor assembly 40 and/or the field device housing 12 . Alternatively or additionally, the mechanical fixation and alignment can also take place by means of a screw, via which the electronics are screwed onto the sensor assembly housing 41 and/or the field device housing 12 . In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 have been fixed and aligned on the sensor assembly housing 41 before the field device housing 12 is plugged on. In principle, however, this can only take place afterwards.

In a next method step, the rigid mating connector 22 of the connection electronics 20 is plugged into or plugged into the rigid connector 32 of the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30, so that the connection electronics 20 and the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 are connected by the rigid plug connection align or position each other. The next method step, in which the field contact plug 21 of the connection electronics 20 is introduced into the housing opening 18 of the field device housing 12 , also takes place essentially at the same time. Due to the rigid plug-in connection and the fact that the field device housing 12 and the sensor assembly housing 41 are not yet welded to one another, they can be aligned or rotated relative to one another. Depending on the configuration, the connection electronics 20 can be connected directly to the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 via the rigid plug and mating connector, or alternatively intermediate electronics 50 can also be provided, which provide the electrical and mechanical connection between the sensor and/or actuator electronics. or actuator electronics 30 are realized via rigid plug connectors or mating connectors arranged at the ends on a printed circuit board. The intermediate electronics 50 can be, for example, main electronics that enable the further processing and/or compensation of the actuator and/or sensor signal. In particular, the temperature of the actuator and/or sensor signal can be compensated by the intermediate electronics. It goes without saying that in this case the rigid mating connector 22 of the connection electronics 20 does not plug into the rigid plug connector 32 of the sensor and/or actuator electronics 30 but rather another rigid plug connector 52 of the intermediate electronics 50 and a rigid mating connector 51 of the intermediate electronics into the rigid Connector 32 of the sensor and / or actuator electronics 30 is plugged in, so that the connection electronics 20, the sensor and / or actuator electronics 30 and the intermediate electronics 50 through the rigid connectors 32 and 51 and 22 and 52 to each other mechanically align or position. The embodiment in 4 has such intermediate electronics 50 as an example.

In a subsequent in 5 In the method step shown as an example, a sleeve 26 matching the field contact plug 21 is introduced into the housing opening 18 of the field device housing 12 or pushed over the field contact plug 21 . The final alignment thus takes place through the application of the sleeve 26 .

After the field device housing 12 is now correctly aligned with the sensor assembly 40, so that the threaded end 46b is also aligned in a defined manner with the field contact plug 21, the field device housing 12 and the sensor assembly housing 41 are joined together. Usually, the joining is done by welding, since both the field device housing 12 and the sensor assembly pen housing 41 are made of steel, in particular stainless steel. The joining is shown in Figure 6 by two triangles as an example.

In a final step, the field device is manufactured in accordance with the planned location and configuration. This can include, for example, the introduction of a display 19 and other electronic components, as described in 6 is shown.

Reference List

10

Field device of automation technology

12

field device housing

13

inner space

16

field device interface

17

Rotationally symmetrical area

18

case opening

20

Connection electronics or first printed circuit board

21

field contact plug

22

Rigid mating connector

23

Thru axle of rigid mating connector

24

EMC and/or explosion protection measures

25

First circuit board

26

sleeve

30

Sensor and/or actuator electronics

31

Printed circuit board of the sensor and/or actuator electronics

32

Rigid connector

40

sensor assembly

41

sensor assembly housing

42

rotationally symmetrical area

43

Sensor and/or actuator element

44

process connection

45

thread

46a

start of thread

46b

thread end

47

mechanical positioning aid, e.g. locking lug

50

intermediate electronics

51

Rigid mating connector

52

Rigid connector

60

electronics mug

Claims (7)

Method for producing a field device for automation technology, having the following steps: - providing a sensor assembly (40) comprising a sensor assembly housing (41), in particular a metal one, with at least one section of a substantially first rotationally symmetrical area (42), a sensor fastened in or on the sensor assembly housing - and/or actuator element (43) for detecting and/or setting a process variable and a process connection (44) attached at the end to the sensor assembly housing and having a thread (45) which has a thread start (46a) and a thread end (46b); - Providing sensor and/or actuator electronics (30) for providing and/or processing an actuator and/or sensor signal with a rigid connector (32) for electrically and mechanically connecting the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30); - Providing connection electronics (20) with a rigid mating connector (22) that matches the rigid connector (32) and a field contact connector (21), the rigid connector (32) of the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30), the mating connector ( 22) and the field contact plug (21) are aligned with one another in a defined manner; - Providing a field device housing (12), in particular a metal one, which at least in sections has a substantially second rotationally symmetrical area (17) and which has a housing opening (18) in a side wall area for receiving or inserting a field contact plug; - Attaching the field device housing (12) with the second rotationally symmetrical area (17) to the first rotationally symmetrical area (42) of the sensor assembly housing (40), the field device housing (12) and the sensor assembly housing (40) not being connected to one another, so that they are relative to one another be able to rotate or turn; - Introducing the sensor and/or actuator electronics (43) into the sensor assembly housing (41) and/or field device housing (12) in such a way that the rigid plug connector (32) is at least oriented in a defined manner to the threaded end (46b) of the process connection (44) is aligned; - Attach or insert the rigid mating connector (22) of the connection electronics into the rigid connector (32) of the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30), so that the connection electronics (20) and the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30) align or position each other and preferably simultaneously - introducing the field contact plug (21) of the connection electronics (20) into the housing opening (18) of the field device housing (12), so that the field device housing (12) and the sensor assembly housing (41) are aligned or positioned with respect to one another; - introducing a sleeve (26) that fits the field contact plug (21) into the housing opening (18) of the field device housing (12); - Joining, in particular welding, of the field device housing (12) with the sensor assembly housing (41). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a round plug, in particular an M12 round plug or an Ethernet plug, is used as the field contact plug (21). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor assembly (40) and/or the field device housing (12) is provided with a mechanical positioning aid and the rigid plug connector is aligned at least to the threaded end of the process connection by the mechanical positioning aid with the defined orientation. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the rigid connector (32) is aligned by clipping or screwing it into or onto the mechanical positioning aid. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein intermediate electronics (50), in particular in the form of main electronics for further processing and/or compensating for the actuator and/or sensor signal, is provided, the intermediate electronics (50) having a further rigid plug connector (52 ) and a further rigid mating connector (51) and wherein the rigid mating connector (22) of the connection electronics (20) does not plug into the rigid plug connector (32) of the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30) but into the further rigid plug connector (52) of the Intermediate electronics (50) and the rigid mating connector (51) of the intermediate electronics (50) is plugged into the rigid connector (32) of the sensor and/or actuator electronics (30), so that the connection electronics (20), the sensor and/or or align or position the actuator electronics (30) and the intermediate electronics (50) with respect to one another. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which an electronics cup (60) is provided, which is inserted into the field device housing (12 ) is introduced. Field device for automation technology obtainable by the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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