EP2119331A1

EP2119331A1 - Rail-based modular device system for industrial information network technology

Info

Publication number: EP2119331A1
Application number: EP08701030A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bert Bergner; Günter Feldmeier
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2007-01-31
Filing date: 2008-01-09
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Also published as: DE102007004865B4; WO2008092547A1; DE102007004865A1; CN101647328A; CN101647328B; JP2010522449A

Abstract

A rail-based modular device system (1) for industrial information network technology has at least one separate active network device (2b) and at least one separate passive network device (2a). The network devices (2) each have a rail mountable housing (11) and at least one input line (4) and at least one output connector (5). In order to keep the production costs low despite a great number of variants, it is provided according to the invention that the housing (11) has a rear housing element (12), which comprises a rail mountable retaining member (14) and is constructed identically for the active and the passive network devices.

Description

RAIL-BASED MODULAR DEVICE SYSTEM FOR INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION NETWORK TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to a rail-based modular device system for industrial information network technology, with at least one separate active and one separate passive network device, which each have a rail mountable housing and at least one input contact arrangement and at least one output connector.

In industrial network technology, active network devices such as network distributors, also called switches or stars, and passive network devices such as outlets, particularly for patch cables, sometimes also called cross connect jumpers, are used in Ethernet-based applications in information technology. The active network devices differ from the passive network devices in that they have electronics interposed between the input contact arrangement and the at last one output connector, while the passive network devices only connect the input contact arrangement with the output connectors without interposed electronics. Active network devices mostly rely on an external power supply.

It is common practice in industrial network technology to connect the network wires, which are permanently installed in cable ducts or similar inside the wall, to outlets at transfer points inside a switch box, from which outputs the flexible cross connect jumpers lead in turn to the respective end devices. The cross connect jumpers are normally provided with 8-pole modular connectors, for example RJ45 plugs.

Robust devices for industrial applications are known as well as simple devices for mounting on top-hat rails. These robust devices are suitable for top-hat rail or wall mounting, partly also for external applications, and have particularly stable connectors and additional support collars. Such robust devices and connectors are described in DE 102004038123B4.

Devices with network wires, some of which can be rigidly clamped are also known from industrial information technology.

A modular connection system for Ethernet applications in the industrial sector is described in EP 1317783B1. The disadvantage of the known device systems is that the production costs of the device system are too high, particularly when the device system has a plurality of variants of network devices.

The object of the invention is therefore to configure a rail-based modular device system of the type described at the outset so that the production costs are reduced compared to the known systems.

This object for the rail-based modular device system described at the beginning is achieved according to the invention in that the housing has a rear housing element, which comprises a rail mountable retaining member and is constructed identically for the active and the passive network devices.

The production costs required for the manufacture of the rail-based modular device system can be reduced by this simple measure, since an identical rear housing element is used irrespective of the type of network device.

Starting from this basic principle, further improvements are possible, which can each be combined with each other independently.

The rail-based modular device system can therefore have a fixed connection module, which can be used equally for the active and the passive network devices, particularly to accommodate the input contact arrangement. Inside the fixed connection module the strands of a network cable can be contacted individually and directly, for example using insulation displacement terminals. The fixed connection module can particularly have a clamping terminal for this purpose, onto which the network cable can be connected permanently. The fixed connection module can particularly be configured in the form of a cover. The cover can be arranged captively on the housing, for example using a simple plug-in hinge. The fixed connection module can also form a strain protection device for an input line, with which the line can be rigidly clamped to the network device.

In another advantageous configuration the device system can have a dummy module, which can be fixed either on the passive and/or the active network device interchangeably with the fixed connection module. The dummy module is preferably closed on all sides, so that when the fixed connection module is not needed, the interior of the network device is closed by the dummy module without apertures remaining open, through which dirt can reach the interior of the housing.

The fixed connection module and/or the dummy module are preferably configured so that they can be operated without special tools, just with standard tools, for example commercially available screwdrivers, pliers, spanners or bit sets.

It is also advantageous if the rear housing element has a receptacle for the fixed connection module, since this means that the necessary variety of variants for the front housing element, which is remote from the rail, decreases. Whether a fixed connection is necessary or not no longer has to be considered in the configuration of the front housing element any more. The front housing element can be configured solely according to the connection requirements of the respective network device.

In order to keep the construction volume of the rail-based modular device system as small as possible, and to be able to fix each of the network devices adjacently side by side onto the rails, the fixed connection module can have an access aperture for a network cable or an input line leading to the input contact arrangement, which aperture opens downwards when mounted on the rails and can be arranged in particular on the lower lateral face of the network device.

It is also advantageous if the network devices of the device system have standardized housing sizes, which are dimensioned so that the active and passive network devices have interchangeable housing sizes when the rail is fully occupied. Through this measure an operator can also exchange the network devices at will after mounting on the rails even if the rail is fully occupied. In particular it is possible with this configuration for an active network device to be exchanged for a passive network device and vice versa.

In another independent advantageous configuration the network devices can also be provided with a power supply connection, which points downwards in the rail-mounted state. The power supply connection can likewise be configured as a power supply module, which can form part of the housing of the active and the passive network devices. No space is necessary laterally for the power supply in this arrangement and the devices can be mounted directly next to one another on the rail with lateral walls that are adjacent to one another. The at least one output connector is preferably located on the front face remote from the rail of the network devices. If a plurality of output connectors is present then all of them are preferably arranged on the front face on top of each other, in particular in alignment. In order to be able to accommodate as many network devices as possible on a given length of rail, it is advantageous if the network devices have a narrow configuration. This is achieved according to the invention in that the network devices each have a width in the direction of the rail which corresponds at most to approximately twice the width of the plug recesses located on the housing front. This width allows good ergonomic access to the output connector to be achieved without the configuration being negatively influenced.

The narrow configuration can additionally or alternatively be ensured in that output connectors located on the housing front are arranged in a single row with their narrow sides located one above another.

The assembly costs for fixing the rails can be reduced, especially in the case of the use of rail-based device systems, if the network devices to be fixed to the rails are as light as possible. The weight is reduced according to the invention by using housing elements made from a plastic material. In order to ensure electromagnetic compatibility despite the plastic material, an electrically conductive coating can be provided. Additionally, multi-layered printed circuit boards and/or shielding of individual electronic components, "packaging", as it is known, can be provided. If a weight increase is accepted, then simple shielding plates can also be used inside the housing.

The housing of the network connector can accommodate a printed circuit board, the plane of which preferably extends vertically and perpendicular to the plane of the rail when the network device is mounted. This measure also leads to a narrow configuration.

The dimensions of the printed circuit boards are preferably identical for the active and passive network devices. The same retaining member for fixing inside the housing can be used for all the printed circuit boards with this measure. The printed circuit boards can also preferably be retained exclusively in the rear housing portion, which simplifies the configuration of the front housing portion and the assembly of the front and rear housing portions. In this embodiment the rear housing element can have two groove or rail-shaped recesses above and below, opening forwards, into which the printed circuit boards can easily be inserted from the front. Additionally, locking member can be provided, which retain the printed circuit board at least during the pre-assembly of the network devices inside the rear housing element. The device system according to the invention is now described by way of example in relation to various network devices with reference to the drawings.

Particularly when the fixed connection module is used on what is the underside of the network device when mounted on the rail, a connection topology which is easy to survey in industrial operation can be produced, by providing two rails one above the other, the active network devices being on the upper rail and the passive network devices on the lower rail. The input contact arrangement arranged below on the network devices prevents the input of a network device being mistaken for the output in critical situations and operating errors taking place. The clear arrangement of the network devices with different functions on two rails located one above the other again prevents operating errors in critical situations.

The invention is described hereinafter using specific embodiments by way of example with reference to the drawings. The features contained in the embodiments described can, as stated above, be omitted or combined with each other at will, if the advantage associated with the feature is not significant in a certain application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a rail-based modular device system according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a passive network device of the rail-based modular device system according to the invention partially disassembled in a schematic perspective view,

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of an active network device of the rail-based modular device system according to the invention partially disassembled in a schematic perspective view, and

Fig. 4 shows the rail-based modular device system according to the invention with a connection topology shown by way of example in a schematic perspective view. The construction of a rail-based modular device system 1 according to the invention is described by way of example with reference to Fig. 1. The rail-based modular device system 1 may be used in industrial information network technology, which can be Ethernet-based.

The rail-based modular device system 1 is of modular construction and has a large number of separate network devices 2, which can be mounted independently of one another on a rail 3 extending substantially horizontally inside an equipment cabinet (not shown). The rail 3 can, for example, be configured as a top-hat rail.

The network devices 2 comprise passive network devices 2a and active network devices 2b, which each have differently configured front faces F. The active network devices 2b are primarily outlets, which connect an input line 4 with at least one output connector 5 at the front face F without interposed electronics. The output connectors 5 can, for example, have a RJ45 format or, a M12 format in the case of optical connectors, for example.

Depending on the loading of the individual wires of the input line 4 it can be given multiple uses, for example through "cable sharing", by assigning a large number of different services or protocols to different lines or wires, so that a plurality of the output connectors 5 are assigned to the individual wires or individual line combinations of the input line 4 in the passive network device 2a, without requiring the interposition of additional electronics.

As a rule, the active network devices 2b assign a large number of the output connectors 5 to one of the input lines 4. The active network devices 2b also have electronics arranged between the input line 4 and the output connectors 5 in order to manage the allocation of the output connectors 5 to the input line 4. The active network devices 2b can be distributors, for example, also called "switches" or "hubs".

The requirements for the mechanical stability of connectors in information network technology are generally higher in industry than in offices. Therefore, special measures can be taken in order to make a stable connection to the output connectors 5 in the case of the rail-based modular device system 1. The output connectors 5 can therefore each be enclosed by a collar 6, which rests laterally in a mating connector 7, which is inserted into the output connector 5, and protects against shearing or bending. The dimensions of the collar 6 can be adapted to the dimensions of the mating connector 7, so that the collar 6 and the mating connector 7 abut each other in the connected state and support each other. Such a system is described for example in DE 102004038123A1 , which is referred to quite extensively regarding the configuration of at least part of the output connector 5 of the rail-based modular device system 1 and the mating connector 7.

The output connectors 5 are arranged in a single row one above another and their front faces are remote from the rail 3. When the network devices 2 are in the mounted state shown in Fig. 1 , the rail-based modular device system 1 has a narrow configuration because a width B of the network devices 2 in a direction 5 of the rail 3 is preferably the same for the whole rail-based modular device system 1, irrespective of the shape and configuration of the active network device 2b or the passive network device 2a. Thus, the passive and active network devices 2a, 2b can be interchanged at will, even in the case where the rail 3 is fully occupied, if the network devices 2 abut one another with their lateral faces in the direction S of the rail 5.

The width B is in particular at least 1.25 times to a maximum of approximately double a width A of the output connectors 5 in the direction S of the rail 3, so that the mating connectors 7 are still easily accessible by hand or with a tool despite their narrow configuration. If, as shown in Fig. 1 , the outer contours of the output connectors 5 are substantially elongated, that is not square or circular, a the narrow faces of the outer contour of the output connectors 5 of a single network device 2 that are preferably aligned and/or in a single row, are assigned to one another. A height H of the network devices 2 is the same irrespective of their configuration as passive or active network devices 2a, 2b.

The front face F of the network devices 2 is preferably provided with a planar marking surface 8 in a region located in the vicinity of the input line 4, which serves for the application of adhesive labels or other marking.

The rail-based modular device system 1 also has a fixed connection module 9, which can be fitted into active network devices 2b as well as passive network devices 2a at will. At least a portion of the fixed connection module 9 is located on what is an underside U of the network devices 2 when mounted on the rail 3. A fixing member 10 of the fixed connector module can be arranged on a lateral face S of the network devices 2, so as to be accessible from outside. AII the network devices 2 are configured in such a way that the functions thereof necessary for operation, such as installation and removal on the rail 3, and connection and detaching of the input lines 4 and the mating connectors 7, can be carried out with standard tools.

Finally, it can also be seen in Fig. 1 that a housing 11 of the network devices 2 is constructed from a rear housing element 12 and a front housing element 13, which forms the front faces F. In this way the rear housing element 12 forms a retaining member 14, which is configured so it can be engaged with the rail 3 and can hold the network device 2 in the mounted state on the rail 3 during operation.

The active network devices 2b can be equipped with a pluggable power supply connection 15 preferably on the underside U.

The construction of the passive network device 2a is now described with reference to Fig. 2 by way of example. In Fig. 2 the front housing element 13 is shown disconnected from the rear housing element 12 and the fixed connection module 9, so that a printed circuit board 16, which is accommodated in the interior of the passive network device 2a can be seen.

The rear housing element 12 has a receiving member 17 for the secure retention of the printed circuit board 16 when mounted. The receiving member 17 can, as shown by way of example in Fig. 2, be configured as a pair of receiving grooves, which open forward towards an aperture 18 of the rear housing element 12, so that the printed circuit board 16 can be inserted into the rear housing element 12.

The fixed connection module 9, which is in the form of a cover, can preferably be fixed captively onto the rear housing element 12, for example by a plug-in hinge, or by a bent projection 19 that penetrates a slot 20 in the rear housing element 12 and encompasses it. The rear housing element 12 has a recess 9', the inner contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of the fixed connection module 9 and is covered by the fixed connection module 9.

The cover can be closed by the fixing member 10, which can be for example standardized screws. The rear housing 12 and the fixed connection module 9 form an access aperture 21 towards the underside U, through which the input line 4 is fed into the interior of the passive network device 2a. The fixed connector module 9 forms a means of strain relief for the input line 4, by rigidly clamping the input line 4 in the access aperture 21. This can be accomplished simply in that the access aperture 21 has a clearance width smaller than the outer diameter of the input line 4.

One input contact arrangement 22 connects the strands of the input line 4 individually and directly with the printed circuit board 16 (Fig. 1). A permanent connection can be made possible, for example, by using insulation displacement terminals. The input contact arrangement 22 has shielding elements 23, which electromagnetically shield the connection between the input line 4 and the printed circuit board 16.

A narrow configuration is achieved through the perpendicularly accommodated printed circuit board 16, the plane of which is perpendicular to the direction S of the rail 3, and through the input contact arrangement 22 which is accessible from the underside U.

The passive network device 2a is shown in Fig. 2 with one of the output connectors 5 and the collars 6. As described in connection with Fig. 1 , more output connectors 5 can also be used in the case of the passive network device 2a. The collar 6 can be dispensed with if the connection is not subject to heavy mechanical loads.

The construction of the active network device 2b is now described with reference to the schematic perspective drawing in Fig. 3. In this case, the same reference numerals are used where the functions and construction of elements correspond to the elements described above.

According to the invention, the rear housing element 12 and the fixed connection module 9 of the active network device 2b are identical to the passive network device 2a, so reference can be made to the above description of Fig. 2.

Due to the rear housing element 12 being identical to that used in the case of the passive network devices 2a, the printed circuit board 16 also has the dimensions that allow the use of the same receiving member 17 in the case of the active network devices 2b. In particular, a height L of the printed circuit board 16 of the active network device 2b is identical to the height L of the printed circuit board 16 of the passive network device 2a.

To supply power to the electronics of the active network device 2b, the electrical power supply connection 15 is provided. The power supply connection 15 can be configured as a connector. Its position on the underside U of the network device 2, like the arrangement of the input contact arrangement 22 on the underside U, makes it possible to pack the network devices 2 tightly side by side on the rail 3.

The front housing element 13 can have different dimensions to the front housing element 13 of the passive network device 2a, since more space is usually needed on the printed circuit board 16 of the active network devices 2b. The front housing element 13 can also have ventilation apertures 24 on an upper face O thereof.

Corresponding ventilation apertures (which cannot be seen in Fig. 3) can be provided on the underside U in order to achieve a convection current of air through the network device 2.

The rear housing element 12, the front housing element 13, and the fixed connection module 9 are preferably manufactured from a plastic material and can preferably be provided internally with an electrically conductive coating. Multi-layer printed circuit boards and completely shielded connectors can also be used. These measures shield electromagnetic radiation from the network devices 2 and allow for a tight arrangement of separate network devices 2 next to one another without large gaps. Simple shielding plates can additionally be provided in the housing 11.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the RJ45 plugs shown in the embodiments simply serve as an illustration and that other plug formats used in information and network technology can be used.

The network devices 2 meet at least the requirements of the IP20 safety class.

The network devices 2 allow a connection topology comprising two of the rails 3 one above the other, preferably arranged parallel to each other, the passive network devices 2a being arranged exclusively on the lower rail and the active network devices 2b being arranged exclusively on the upper rail. A corresponding arrangement is shown in Fig. 4. The passive network devices 2a are connected to the input contact arrangements 22 with the permanently installed input lines 4, which belong to the infrastructure of a building. Patch cables 30, which, acting as the input lines 4, lead to the input contact arrangements 22 of the active network devices 2b located above them, are connected to the terminals 5 of the passive network devices 2a. The patch cable 30 is indicated in Fig. 4 with a broken line. The connection lines 5 lead from there to peripheral devices or central devices (not shown) of the industrial information network.

In addition, the active network device 2b, which is arranged furthest to the left on the upper rail, has no input contact arrangement 22. The connection module 9 (Fig. 1 ) is therefore replaced by a dummy module 31 , which is fixed to the rear housing element 12.

Further modifications are possible. For example, the network devices 2 can have electrical connections that can be plugged into one another on the lateral faces D, as described in EP 1317683B1 , to which reference is made in its entirety in relation to this.

Claims

1. Rail-based modular device system (1) for industrial information network technology, with at least one separate active (2b) and at least one separate passive (2a) network device (2), which each have a rail (3) mountable housing (11) and at least one input contact arrangement (22) and at least one output connector (5), characterized in that the housing (11) has a rear housing element (12), which comprises a rail (3) mountable retaining member (14) and is constructed identically for the active (2b) and the passive (2a) network devices (2).

2. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the device system (1) also has a fixed connection module (9) in which the wires of an input line (4) can be contacted individually and directly.

3. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixed connection module (9) can be substituted by a dummy module and fixed to the passive (2a) and/or the active (2b) network device (2).

4. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the rear housing element (12) has a receptacle for the fixed connection module (9).

5. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the fixed connection module (9) has an access aperture (21) for an input line (4), which opens downwards when it is mounted on the rail (3).

6. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active (2b) and the passive (2a) network devices (2) have interchangeable housing sizes (B) on the rail (3).

7. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrical power supply connection (15) is arranged so as to be accessible from below in the rail (3) mounted state.

8. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a front housing element (13) has a recess for the electrical power supply connection (15).

9. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network devices (2) each have a width (B) in a direction (S) of the rail (3), which corresponds to at least approximately 1.25 times and at most approximately double the width of output connectors (5) located on front faces (F) of the housing.

10. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output connectors (5) are arranged in a single row with their narrow sides located one above another on the front faces (F) of the housing in the network device (2) mounted on the rail (3).

11. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a portion of the housing (11) is made from a plastic material that is coated with an electrically conductive layer.

12. Rail-based modular device system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two rails (3) are provided, located one above the other, the active network devices (2b) being arranged on the upper rail (3) and the passive network devices (2a) being arranged on the lower rail (3).