EP1921328B1 - Compressed-air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The pressurized air preparation device has a number of function modules connected in series, each provided with a pneumatic base block (10) having terminations (12) on 2 opposite sides (11), for providing the series pneumatic connections and interfaces, for connection with adjacent function blocks (13,16,20,21), on at least 2 of the remaining sides. At least one of the interfaces is suitable for connection with alternate function blocks.

Description

The invention relates to a compressed air maintenance device consisting of several mutually reihbare function modules.

In such, from the DE 19746179 C2 known compressed air maintenance device, the individual functional modules are mechanically interconnected, wherein the compressed air is passed directly from module to module on the adjacent boundary surfaces and the electrical connection via a bus bar integrated in a support rail for the individual modules. Such functional modules or maintenance modules for compressed air preparation are, for example, on-off valves, pressure regulators, filters, filter regulators, flow meters, distributors, adapters, control modules, monitoring modules and the like. Each of these modules is configured individually in a known manner, with a large number of differently configured designs being provided with regard to very different customer requirements. Alone with regard to the variety of possibilities of electrical communication and bus variants many different designs must be designed, manufactured and stored.

An object of the present invention is to be able to use the individual functional modules with a smaller number of basic variants variable.

This object is achieved by a compressed air maintenance device with the features of claim 1.

The advantages of the invention are, in particular, that a large number of different functional modules can be assembled by combining the uniform pneumatic base blocks with variable peripheral blocks. The reusability of the functional blocks in conjunction with basic pneumatic blocks leads to an optimization of the development and logic costs. For example, functional blocks can be exchanged on site or pneumatic blocks can be supplemented with functional blocks so that an adaptation to the respective operating environment can be carried out on site. With relatively few different basic variants of function blocks, uniform pneumatic basic blocks can be configured into very different versions of function modules.

One of the functional blocks is designed as an electrical interlinking block and serves for the electrical longitudinal linking of several functional modules. This interlinking block can be designed according to the chaining desired by the customer or user and contains either individual lines or a fieldbus system desired by the user.

Furthermore, the interlinking block contains electronic control and diagnostic means and visualization means for process parameters and processes and may also be provided with a fieldbus interface. The control and diagnostic means may include functions for the entire compressed air maintenance device or only for one or more functional modules.

The measures listed in the dependent claims advantageous refinements and improvements of claim 1 compressed air maintenance device are possible.

The interfaces are preferably electrical and / or pneumatic connecting means, in particular plug-in connection means, which ensure quick and easy mounting, for example by plugging or latching.

The interlinking block expediently has on at least one side which is not in contact with the pneumatic base block an electrical interface for the electrical connection to a functional block resting against the pneumatic base block, wherein the interface is designed in particular as an electrical plug or electrical plug-in receptacle. When attaching such a function block, the pneumatic connections to the pneumatic base block and the electrical connections to the interlinking block are then simultaneously produced. It is expedient that the at least one functional block overlaps the pneumatic base block and the interlinking block.

Advantageously, a front block which can be attached to the front side of the pneumatic base block facing away from the interlinking block is also provided, which is electrically connected to the interlinking block via the pneumatic base block or a functional block connected thereto. The front block is preferably provided with a display device and / or controls.

The interlinking block advantageously has electrical and / or mechanical decoding means for detecting the respectively connected functional blocks.

The interlinking block may be formed in one piece or consist of a line guide element and an electronic block which can be electrically coupled thereto. The line guide element forms, together with line guide elements of the other functional modules, a line of cables extending along the compressed air maintenance device, to which the electronics blocks can be attached, for example, connected or clamped.

The interlinking block preferably has at least one printed circuit board which is electrically connectable, in particular can be plugged together, with printed circuit boards in function blocks which can be coupled thereto.

For variably configuring the functional modules or the compressed air maintenance device, filter blocks and / or pressure regulator blocks and / or valve blocks and / or oiler blocks and / or sensor blocks and / or dryer blocks and / or manifold blocks are provided as optional connectable to the pneumatic base block function blocks.

Figur 1

eine zum Teil offen dargestellte Seitenansicht eines Funktionsmoduls, das aus einem Pneumatikbasisblock und 4 daran angeschlossenen Funktionsblöcken besteht, von denen einer als einteiliger Verkettungsblock ausgebildet ist,

Figur 2

eine zweiteilige Variante des Verkettungsblocks und

Figur 3

eine Explosionsdarstellung der in Figur 1 dargestellten Blöcke.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

FIG. 1

a partially open side view of a functional module consisting of a pneumatic base block and 4 function blocks connected thereto one of which is designed as a one-piece interlinking block,

FIG. 2

a two-part version of the interlinking block and

FIG. 3

an exploded view of in FIG. 1 represented blocks.

That in the FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrated functional module is connected to other functional modules together, wherein the sum of the juxtaposed functional modules forms a compressed air maintenance device, as shown and described in the prior art mentioned above. The functional module shown here as an exemplary embodiment is constructed like a box. It consists of a basic pneumatic block 10, wherein the basic pneumatic blocks of all functional modules are constructed the same, at least with regard to the basic interfaces. For the two end functional modules minor modifications may be provided. The pneumatic base block 10 has at its pointing to opposite sides parallel end faces 11 pneumatic interfaces 12 to ensure a continuous pneumatic connection through all juxtaposed functional modules or Pneumatikbasisblöcke 10. For mechanical or sealing connection plug-in, locking or screw connection means may be provided, which are not shown for simplicity.

On the four remaining side walls of the pneumatic base block 10 functional blocks are arranged, which are variably attachable, the number can vary application-oriented. At the front of a front block 13 is arranged, which is provided with a display 14 and as buttons formed controls 15 is provided. Such a front block 13 need only be arranged on one of the functional modules, wherein the operation and the display can be designed for all functional modules.

At the opposite rear side a linking block 16 is arranged, which serves for the electrical linking of the functional modules. It has on its side walls parallel to the end faces 11 of the pneumatic base block 10 electrical plug connection elements 17, which serve for mating with corresponding interlinking blocks 16 of the other functional modules. As a result, a continuous line system is formed, which connects the functional modules with each other electrically. These may be field bus lines and / or parallel lines, wherein the power supply, if necessary, of the various functional modules of the compressed air maintenance device can be made via these lines. The interlinking blocks 16 are arranged on a holding rail 18, which serves to hold the entire compressed air maintenance device. Alternatively or additionally, the functional modules or pneumatic base blocks can also be linked directly to one another, for example by means of clamping, latching or screwing means. In the case of fieldbus lines, the interlinking block 16 contains a corresponding bus station. The electronic elements of the interlinking block 16 are arranged on a printed circuit board 19, wherein if required, a plurality of printed circuit boards can be provided. The printed circuit board 19 contains electronic control and / or diagnostic means and / or visualization means for the visualization of process parameters and / or - processes, which can be used to control and diagnose your own functional module or all functional modules. The control and / or diagnostic means therefore need not be arranged in each interlinking block 16. The tax- and / or diagnostic means may be formed, for example, as a microcontroller.

At the top of the pneumatic base block 10, an upper functional block 20 and at the bottom of a lower functional block 21 is arranged. These function blocks may be on-off valves, safety valves, pressure regulators, filters, filter regulators, flow meters, manifolds, adapters, dryers, or sensor devices, such as pressure sensor devices or level sensor devices. In the exemplary embodiment, the upper functional block 20 has a printed circuit board 22, the lower functional block 21 two interconnected electrically conductive circuit boards 23, 24 and the front block 13 a printed circuit board 25. The printed circuit boards 22 to 25 are electrically connected to the circuit board 19 of the interlinking block 16. Serve for this purpose electrical plug connection elements 26, wherein the electrical connections are made automatically when connecting the function blocks. In principle, cable pieces may be provided as connecting elements, which then have to be inserted in each case in the corresponding plug-in receptacles. If the respectively selected and attached functional blocks 20, 21 do not have to fulfill any electrical functions, the corresponding printed circuit boards 22 to 24 can, of course, also be dispensed with and any existing plug-in connection elements 26 remain without function.

If the functional blocks 20, 21 are pneumatic functional blocks or functional blocks with pneumatic functions, then the required pneumatic connections are produced via schematically represented connection lines 27 and interfaces. For example, if lower function block 21 is a valve or a filter, Thus, the corresponding functional element is connected when connecting the lower function block 21 to the pneumatic base block 10 between two connecting lines 27, which extend downward. The two pneumatic interfaces 12 at the two opposite end faces 11 are each connected to one of these connecting lines. If, for example, the upper functional block 20 is a sensor block, for example a pressure sensor block or a flow sensor block, the sensor is again connected to an upwardly extending connecting line 27 or between two upwardly extending connecting lines 27. Also, the interlinking block 16 may for example contain a sensor, and the connection is made accordingly. If no pneumatic connection is required, then the outer mouths of the existing connecting lines 27 are sealingly closed by the respective functional block or two connecting lines 27 are connected to one another.

The electrical connection 28 between the front block 13 and the interlinking block 16 extends as a cable through the upper functional block 20. It is of course also possible to lead such a connection through the pneumatic base block 10, provided that it has corresponding electrical interfaces and lines. Instead of a cable, the electrical connection 28 can also be guided via fixed interfaces and internally, for example in the upper functional block 20, guided connection lines or connecting elements.

The attachment of the interlinking block 16, the front block 13 and the functional blocks 20, 21 on the pneumatic base block 10 via not shown fasteners, such as plug-in, locking or screw. By replacing function blocks can be assigned to the respective function module another function. This can also be done in the assembled state of the compressed air maintenance device.

Instead of one according to the FIGS. 1 to 3 one-piece interlinking block 16 may also be a two-part interlinking block 29 according to FIG. 2 to step. It consists of a busbar element 30 which, together with other similar busbar elements of the other functional modules, forms a continuous busbar, in which in turn parallel lines 31 or serial bus lines run. The lines 31 are formed as busbars. If an electronic function block 32 connected to the busbar element 30, for example, snapped, infected or screwed, the electrical contact is made by spring contacts 33 of the electronic function block 32, whereby plug contacts are possible. Incidentally, the electronic function block 32 is formed corresponding to the interlinking block 16. The same or equivalent components are provided with the same reference numerals and not described again. In addition, the printed circuit board 19 is provided with a pressure sensor 34 which is pneumatically connected to the pneumatic base block 10 via a connecting line 27 when the electronic functional block 32 is attached.

The interlinking block 16 or the interlinking block 29 can still be provided with an automatic configuration recognition. This can be done via the electrical connector elements 26, via which the type of the connected block can be sensed. From this, the overall functionality of the respectively configured function module can be derived by the electronics in the interlinking block 16. Corresponding configuration settings can then be carried out automatically become. This is particularly important when replacing blocks, since then automatically each new configuration can be detected, so that the corresponding settings can be made automatically.

The interlinking blocks 16 and 29 can be present in different designs and optionally, depending on the desired design, be connected to the pneumatic base blocks 10 of the respective compressed air maintenance device. Thus, such a linking block 16 or 29 may be formed a control module for a single functional module with an interface for industry standard, analog and digital input and output signals. Furthermore, such a control module may have different fieldbus interfaces for different types of bus, e.g. ASinterface, Profibus and the like. In a further embodiment, the control module may be provided with an interface for internal, digital system networking or additionally with an interface for an external bus.

Of course, the number of blocks attached to the pneumatic base block 10 is not limited to that of the embodiment, but a smaller number of blocks may be provided. In the case of the formation of the functional module as a filter module, for example, only a lower functional block 21 may be attached, which contains a filter element. However, in addition, a chaining block 16 will be attached, even if no electrical functions should be included in the respective functional module.

Claims (10)

1. Air conditioner unit comprising a plurality of function modules capable of being lined up, wherein at least a part of the function modules capable of modular configuration comprises a standard pneumatic base block (10) with connecting means (12) at two parallel outer walls (11) for establishing pneumatic connections in the line-up process, wherein at least two of the remaining outer walls of the pneumatic base block (10) are provided with interfaces for connection to function blocks (13, 16, 20, 21), wherein at least one of the interfaces is designed for receiving different function blocks, one of which is an electric interconnection block for the electric longitudinal interconnection of the function modules, characterised in that the function block (16; 29) designed as an interconnection block is provided with electronic control and diagnostic means and with visualisation means for process parameters and/or sequences and, at the side walls parallel to the outer walls (11) of the pneumatic base block (10), with electric plug connector elements (17) for plugging together with interconnection blocks (16) of the other function modules.
2. Air conditioner unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the interfaces are provided with electric and/or pneumatic connecting means, in particular with plug and/or screw connection means.
3. Air conditioner unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the function block (16) designed as an interconnection block is provided, on at least one side which is not adjacent to the pneumatic base block (10), with an interface (26) for electric connection to at least one function block (13, 20, 21) which is adjacent to the pneumatic base block (10), wherein the interface (26) is in particular designed as an electric plug or an electric socket.
4. Air conditioner unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one function block (20, 21) overlaps the pneumatic base block (10) and the function block (16) designed as interconnection block.
5. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a function block (13) capable of being mounted on the front side of the pneumatic base block (10) and designed as a front block is electrically connected to the function block (16) designed as an interconnection block via the pneumatic base block (10) or via a function block (20) connected thereto, and in that it is preferably fitted with a display unit (14) and/or with controls (15).
6. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the function block (16; 29) designed as an interconnection block is provided with electric and/or mechanical decoding means for the detection of the connected function block (13, 20, 21).
7. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the function block (16; 29) designed as an interconnection block comprises a field bus interface.
8. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the function block (29) designed as an interconnection block comprises a cable routing element (30) and an electronic block (32) capable of being electrically coupled thereto.
9. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the function block (16; 29) designed as an interconnection block comprises at least one printed circuit board (19) capable of being connected to, in particular plugged together with, printed circuit boards (22 to 25) in function blocks (13, 20, 21) which can be coupled thereto.
10. Air conditioner unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that filter blocks and/or pressure regulator blocks and/or valve blocks and/or lubricator blocks and/or sensor blocks and/or drier blocks and/or manifold blocks are designed as function blocks (20, 21) capable of being optionally connected to the pneumatic base block (11).

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