EP2511984B1 - Device for controlling an assembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for controlling a system, comprising a control and / or data transmission module for latching onto a mounting rail and a plurality of I / O plug-in modules.

The progressive miniaturization of automation solutions for the control of systems enables ever higher packing densities in control cabinets, so that when installing such an automation solution in a control cabinet, the number of input / output points for connecting sensors or actuators for controlling the system per meter cabinet width increases can be. In addition, depending on the application, in some applications further circuit elements, e.g. Noise suppression filters, overvoltage protection elements and / or measuring or connection resistors are required, which are often offered as retrofittable accessories for mounting on a mounting rail provided in the control cabinet.

From the DE 10 2007 006 830 A1 a control and / or data transmission system is known, comprising a number of adjacent juxtaposed I / O modules and a control and / or data transmission module.

From the DE 198 07 710 A1 an automation device with attachable base modules is known, wherein the base module with an electronic module without external contacts and with a releasably lockable connection module with external contacts can be contacted, the external contacts of the connection module are de-energized at dekontaktiertem electronic module and wherein the connection module of Base module is solvable only with dekontaktiertem electronics module.

From the DE 601 23 984 T2 is a modular interconnection system for Ethernet applications in the industrial sector known, the system comprises electronic modules, which can each be arranged on a mounting rail and each have at least one data distribution device.

From the DE 198 14 810 C1 is a network device for several, to be controlled via a bus system and / or controlling electrical facilities known.

From the DE19506859 An arrangement for controlling a system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

However, circuit elements are not usually integrated in the automation solutions ex factory to keep the size of the aforementioned devices as small and compact, and therefore require additional space on the mounting rail and specially tailored to the circuit elements and consuming wiring and / or documentation. In many cases, only after completion of the complete wiring of the cabinet is detected, for example, in the trial phase of a system that an additional circuit with the aforementioned circuit elements is necessary. However, if there is no free space due to the high packing density is more on the mounting rail, the cabinet must be costly and / or time-consuming rebuilt, so that the additional circuit elements can be installed.

The invention is based on the object to provide an arrangement for controlling a system, which is particularly flexible in terms of possible additional circuit elements configurable.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is achieved by an arrangement for controlling a system, with a control and / or data transmission module for snapping onto a mounting rail and a plurality of I / O plug-in modules, each I / O plug-in module having a plurality of terminal contacts for connecting the System has, each I / O plug-in module a plurality of plug contacts for plugging onto the control and / or data transmission module such that in the plugged state, an electrical connection between the I / O plug-in module and the control and / or data transmission module is made, and at least one I / O plug-in module has an electrical circuit element and the electrical circuit element is arranged in the current path between at least one clamping contact and at least one plug-in contact.

The invention thus goes a new way, in which not, as known from the prior art, additional Circuit elements are arranged separately from the arrangement or the control and / or data transmission module and / or the I / O plug-in module, for example on a further mounting rail, but are arranged in and / or on the input / output (I / O) plug-in module , Thus, in a particularly simple manner, a circuit element can subsequently be arranged on an I / O plug-in module, ie, for example, after the control and / or data transmission module and the I / O plug-in modules have been arranged in a control cabinet on a mounting rail, or alternatively Additionally, replace an I / O cartridge with another I / O cartridge that has the circuitry required for the equipment. The arrangement according to the invention thus makes it possible, in particular in control cabinets with high packing densities, that the installed automation solutions can be adapted extremely flexibly to changed system requirements, for example during so-called "last-minute" changes in the test phase of the system without additional space on the mounting rail is required, and without the wiring of the control and / or data transmission module as well as the I / O plug-in modules comprehensive automation solutions must be changed in a complex manner or the control cabinet has to be rebuilt. The arrangement according to the invention also makes it possible to produce the I / O plug-in modules in a particularly favorable manner, since not all potentially required circuit elements "in stock" in the I / O plug-in module must already be integrated during the production of the I / O plug-in module, Thus, so the I / O plug-in module, as before, can be produced in unaltered size, however, if necessary, required additional circuit elements in particularly flexible and easier Way in and / or on an I / O plug-in module can be arranged. Furthermore, according to the invention, it is preferred that all I / O plug-in modules of the arrangement according to the invention each have an electrical circuit element.

Characterized in that the electrical circuit element in the current path between a terminal contact and a plug contact, that is arranged between the system and the control and / or data transmission module, by means of the electrical circuit element input signals and / or output signals can be influenced directly by the electrical circuit element. Thus, the invention makes it possible, for example, for a 24 volt output provided by the control and / or data transmission module or by the I / O plug-in module to provide a voltage of 60 to 230 volts by means of an electrical circuit element designed as a coupling relay without an exchange of the control and / or data transmission module is necessary.

Preferably, the control and / or data transmission module is configured such that, on the one hand, interfaces for electrical connection to the I / O plug-in modules are provided, and, on the other hand, in addition to a controller for controlling the system, communication and / or interface connections for connecting the control unit. and / or data transmission module are provided with further control and / or data transmission modules. Likewise, the control and / or data transmission module can also be designed such that in addition to the aforementioned communication and / or interface connections for data transmission instead of a controller, a bus terminal is provided, the I / O plug-in modules can be plugged onto the bus terminal. A Such bus terminal can be designed as any known from the prior art bus terminal. Instead of terminal contacts and / or plug contacts may also be any known from the prior art contact means for connecting the one part of the modules of the inventive arrangement with each other and on the other hand for connecting the I / O plug-in modules are provided with the system.

In principle, the electrical circuit element can be configured as desired. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical circuit element is designed as a passive and / or as an active electrical component, in particular as a resistor, a filter choke, a capacitor, a semiconductor circuit, a DC / DC voltage converter, a signal separator, a line driver and / or a relay. In addition, the electrical circuit element may also comprise a circuit board and / or a heat sink. In accordance with these preferred embodiments of the invention, a "suitable" electrical circuit element can thus be selected application-specifically, then preferably arranged in the I / O plug-in module and / or an I / O plug-in module with such a "matching" circuit element on the control and / or data transmission module snapped. In this context, it is very particularly preferred that the electrical circuit element comprises a safety relay with a signaling contact and the signaling contact is connected to the plug contacts. Thus, safety-relevant applications can be realized by the I / O plug-in module in a particularly simple manner, without the need for a complicated additional circuit in the control cabinet, which requires additional space on a mounting rail.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the I / O plug-in module has a housing, and the electrical circuit element is disposed within the housing and / or from outside the housing to a arranged on the housing clamping contact can be plugged. Accordingly, it is thus possible according to this embodiment of the invention that the electrical circuit element can not only be pre-assembled within the housing, but also subsequently, so if the inventive arrangement, for example, already mounted in a cabinet, attachable to the housing of the I / O plug-in module is, so that a particularly space-saving required for the system and possibly found after installation of the inventive arrangement functionality by simply plugging the electrical circuit element on the housing or on a arranged on the housing terminal contact of the I / O plug-in module can be realized.

According to another embodiment, it is preferred in this context that the electrical circuit element from outside the housing to a arranged on the housing clamping contact can be plugged and the I / O plug-in module is designed such that alternatively the system via a terminal contact with the I / O plug-in module is connectable and an electrical circuit element by plugging on the terminal contact with the I / O plug-in module is connectable. This means that, according to this embodiment of the invention, it is provided that an I / O module can perform two functions, that is, on the one hand enables the connection of an actuator and / or sensor of the system and, on the other hand, allows an electrical circuit element to be the same Clamping contact can be plugged. Insofar it is envisaged that the I / O module can be connected in different ways without the configuration of the I / O plug-in module having to be changed.

In this context, it is further preferred that the electrical circuit element can be plugged from outside the housing onto a clamping contact arranged on the housing, and the I / O plug-in module is designed such that the system can be connected to the I / O plug-in module via a first part of the terminal contacts and an electrical circuit element is connectable by plugging on a second part of the terminal contacts with the I / O plug-in module. Accordingly, it is therefore preferred that a part of the clamping contacts can be brought into contact with the system, while another part of the clamping contacts is designed for plugging the circuit element onto the clamping contacts. In this context, it is further preferred that the second part of the clamping contacts is arranged at a distance from the first part of the clamping contacts. Preferably, the I / O plug-in module to a patch panel on which the second part of the terminal contacts is arranged so that in a particularly simple manner and separated from, for example, from the first part of the terminal contacts to conditioning cables an electrical circuit element plugged onto this separate patch panel is. For this purpose, the aforementioned plug-in field on the one hand at one end of the I / O plug-in module or between a group of terminal contacts on the I / O plug-in module can be arranged.

In principle, the control and / or communication module may be programmable and / or configurable in any manner known in the art. According to another preferred Embodiment of the invention, however, it is preferred that the control and / or data transmission module is configurable with respect to the pluggable I / O plug-in modules and the I / O plug-in modules are configured such that when removing a first I / O plug-in module from the control and / or or communication module and then attaching a second I / O plug-in module to the control and / or data transmission module, no change to the configuration of the control and / or data transmission module is required. According to this embodiment, it is thus provided that an I / O plug-in module can be exchanged for another I / O plug-in module, which preferably has a different electrical circuit element than the first I / O plug-in module, without the control and / or data transmission module being reconfigured got to. This means that, for example, in the test phase of an installation, an I / O plug-in module with another circuit element can be plugged onto the control and / or data transmission module without the configuration of the control and / or data transmission module having to be changed.

In principle, the control and / or data transmission module can have a certain number of I / O plug-in modules, for example 2, 4 or 8 I / O plug-in modules, which each have inputs and / or outputs for connection to sensors or actuators of the system. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the arrangement comprises an expansion module, wherein the expansion module with the control and / or data transmission module is connectable such that in the connected state, an electrical connection between the expansion module and the control and / or data transmission module is manufactured, and the expansion module is configured such that an I / O plug-in module can be latched onto the expansion module and in the latched state, an electrical connection between the I / O plug-in module and the expansion module is made. Preferably, the expansion module is configured such that a second expansion module is connectable to the aforementioned first expansion module, so that in the connected state, both expansion modules, an electrical connection between the two expansion modules is made. According to this embodiment, therefore, the arrangement according to the invention can be extended by any number of I / O plug-in modules for connecting sensors and / or actuators to a system, so that the arrangement can be used in a particularly flexible manner for controlling systems of different sizes. Furthermore, it is preferred that the width of the I / O plug-in module corresponds to the width of the expansion module. Likewise, an expansion module can be configured such that 2, 4, 6 or 8 I / O plug-in modules can be plugged onto the expansion module. By means of such an expansion module, the arrangement according to the invention can be modularly expanded with an arbitrary number of I / O modules and can therefore be used particularly flexibly.

In principle, the size of the housing of the I / O plug-in module can be arbitrary. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the I / O plug-in module, ie preferably the housing of the I / O plug-in module, in the area by the I / O plug-in module in the inserted state rests against the control and / or data transmission module , has a width of 12 mm and a height of 18 mm. By such Dimensioning makes it possible to achieve a very high packing density in a control cabinet, so that a particularly large number of I / O points can be realized per meter of control cabinet width, ie the largest possible number of inputs and / or outputs for control in a very small space the plant is available.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine Anordnung mit einem Steuerungs- und/oder Datenübertragungsmodul, einer Mehrzahl von E/A Steckmodulen und Erweiterungsmodulen gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Explosivansicht,

Fig. 2

das Steuerungs- und/oder Datenübertragungsmodul mit einem E/A Steckmodul gemäß der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung in einer Schnittansicht, und

Fig. 3a-c

drei E/A Steckmodule gemäß unterschiedlicher bevorzugter Ausführungsformen der Erfindung in perspektivischer Ansicht.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an arrangement with a control and / or data transmission module, a plurality of I / O plug-in modules and expansion modules according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in an exploded view,

Fig. 2

the control and / or data transmission module with an I / O plug-in module according to the preferred embodiment of the invention in a sectional view, and

Fig. 3a-c

three I / O plug-in modules according to different preferred embodiments of the invention in a perspective view.

Fig. 1 shows an inventive arrangement for controlling a system with a control and / or data transmission module 1 for snapping onto a mounting rail 2, not shown, with a plurality of I / O plug-in modules 3rd

The control and / or data transmission module 1 has a plurality of contacts 4, which establish an electrical connection with provided on the I / O plug-in module 3 terminal contacts 5 by snapping an I / O plug-in module 3 on the control and / or data transmission module. The aforementioned snapping is in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 , which shows the control and / or data transmission module 1 and the I / O plug-in module 3 in a sectional view, symbolized by arrow 6. For this purpose, both the control and / or data transmission module 1 and the I / O plug-in module 3 locking means 7, which are provided at both ends of the I / O plug-in module 3 and also disengaging the I / O plug-in module 3 from the control and / or enable data transmission module 1 by means of a lever. In the latched state, the I / O plug-in module 3 is located in the area of the plug-in contacts 5 directly on the control and / or data transmission module 1.

For connecting sensors and / or actuators of the system, the I / O plug-in module has 3 terminal contacts 8. While, how out Fig. 1 As can be seen, four I / O plug-in modules 3 can be snapped onto the control and / or data transmission module 1, expansion modules 9 can be connected to the control and / or data transmission module 1, so that in the connected state an electrical connection between the expansion module 9 and the control module and / or data transmission module 1 is produced. The expansion module 9 is configured in such a way that an I / O expansion module 3 can likewise be snapped onto the expansion module 9. Further, expansion modules 9, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 be seen, be configured such that on the one hand only a single I / O expansion module 3 can be plugged onto an expansion module 9 or four I / O Expansion modules 3 are attachable to a second embodiment of the expansion module 9.

Furthermore, the control and / or data transmission module 1 has communication interfaces 10 for connection to further control and / or data transmission modules 1, as well as a microprocessor, not shown, for controlling the system.

According to the invention, it is now provided that at least one I / O plug-in module 3 has an electrical circuit element 11 which is arranged in the current path between a clamping contact 8 and a plug contact 5. The electrical circuit element 11 may, on the one hand, as in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3a shown locked onto the I / O plug-in module 3, for example, snapped into the terminal contacts 8, or, as in Fig. 2 shown to be disposed within the housing of the I / O plug-in module 3.

In this case, the electrical circuit element 11 can in principle be embodied as any passive and / or active electrical component, for example as a resistor, a filter choke, a capacitor, a semiconductor circuit, a DC / DC voltage converter, a signal separator, a power driver and / or a Relays, as in Fig. 2 shown include. Likewise, the electrical circuit element 11 may be designed as a safety relay for establishing a safety-relevant circuit, wherein the safety relay may comprise a signaling contact, which may also be connected to the plug contacts 5.

In addition, it is possible, as in Fig. 3b shown that when the electrical circuit element 11 within the I / O plug-in module 3 is provided, a second part 12 of the terminal contacts 8 spaced from a first part 13 of the terminal contacts 8 may be arranged so that on such a patch panel 14, an electrical circuit element 11 can be plugged. It is also possible that a heat sink 15 is provided, which can be plugged onto the terminal contacts 8, so that a heat caused by the electrical circuit element 11 heat can be dissipated through the heat sink 15, as in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3c shown.

Because the circuit element 11 is arranged in or on the I / O plug-in module 3, even after the arrangement according to the invention has already been installed in a control cabinet, additional circuits can be realized in a particularly simple manner, that one for the additional circuit necessary electrical circuit element 11 to the I / O plug-in module 3, as in Fig. 3a shown, plugged. Thus, for example, if the I / O plug-in module 3 has only 24 volt inputs, high-voltage inputs can be realized in a particularly simple manner by means of a circuit element 11 designed as an optocoupler circuit, without the entire arrangement having to be replaced in the control cabinet.

Also, all or part of the terminal contacts 8 may be designed such that either a sensor and / or an actuator of the system with the terminal contact 8 is connectable or an electrical circuit element 11 can be snapped onto the terminal contact 8. The arrangement according to the invention also makes it possible, since the housing of the I / O plug-in module 3 in the region of the plug contacts 5 only has a width of 12 mm at a height of 18 mm, that a particularly space-saving Installation in a control cabinet to achieve a high packing density with a high number of I / O connections per meter cabinet width is possible, but which is extremely flexible configurable to different plant circuits.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Control and / or data transmission module 1 mounting rail 2 I / O plug-in module 3 contacts 4 plug contact 5 arrow 6 latching means 7 clamping contact 8th expansion module 9 Communication Interface 10 circuit element 11 Second part 12 First part 13 Steckfeld 14 heatsink 15

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement for controlling a system, comprising a control and/or data transfer module (1) comprising a microprocessor to be snapped onto a mounting bar (2) and a plurality of I/O plug-in modules (3), wherein

   each I/O plug-in module (3) comprises a plurality of clip contacts (8) for connecting the system;

   each I/O plug-in module (3) comprises a plurality of plug contacts (5) for plugging onto the control and/or data transfer module (1) such that in the plugged-on state an electrical connection is established between the I/O plug-in module (3) and the control and/or data transfer module (1),

   characterized in that

   at least one I/O plug-in module (3) comprises an electrical circuit element (11), wherein the electrical circuit element (11) is disposed in the current path between at least one clip contact (8) and at least one plug contact (5),

   the control and/or data transfer module (1) is configurable by the microprocessor in terms of the pluggable I/O plug-in modules (3) and the I/O plug-in modules (3) are configured such that, when a first I/O plug-in module (3) is removed from the control and/or data transfer module (1) and a second I/O plug-in module (3) is plugged onto the control and/or data transfer module (1), it is not necessary to change the configuration of the control and/or data transfer module (1),

   the I/O plug-in module (3) comprises a housing and

   the electrical circuit element (11), if the I/O plug-in module (3) is plugged onto the control and/or data transfer module (1), can be plugged onto a clip contact (8) arranged at the housing from outside of the housing.
2. Arrangement for controlling a system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit element (11) is a passive and/or an active electrical device, in particular a resistor, a filter choke, a capacitor, a semiconductor circuit, a DC/DC voltage converter, a signal separator, a line driver and/or a relay.
3. Arrangement for controlling a system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the electrical circuit element (11) is a safety relay including a signalling contact and the signalling contact is connected with the plug contacts (5).
4. Arrangement for controlling a system according to any of the previous claims, wherein the electrical circuit element (11) can be plugged onto a clip contact (8) which is provided at the housing from outside of the housing and the I/O plug-in module (3) is configured such that the system can be connected to the I/O plug-in module (3) through a clip contact (8) and an electrical circuit element (11) can be connected to the I/O plug-in module (3) by plugging onto the clip contact (8).
5. Arrangement for controlling a system according to any of the previous claim, wherein the electrical circuit element (11) can be plugged onto a clip contact (8) which is provided at the housing from outside of the housing and the I/O plug-in module (3) is configured such that the system can be connected to the I/O plug-in module (3) through a first part of the clip contacts (8) and an electrical circuit element (11) can be connected to the I/O plug-in module (3) by plugging onto a second part of the clip contacts (8).
6. Arrangement for controlling a system according to claim 5, wherein the second part (12) of the clip contacts (8) is disposed distant from the first part (13) of the clip contacts (8).
7. Arrangement for controlling a system according to any one of the preceeding claims, comprising an expansion module (9), wherein the expansion module (9) can be connected to the control and/or data transfer module (1) such that in the connected state an electrical connection is established between the expansion module (9) and the control and/or data transfer module (1) and the expansion module (9) is configured such that an I/O plug-in module (3) can be snapped onto the expansion module (9) and in the snapped-on state an electrical connection between the I/O plug-in module (3) and the expansion module (9) is established.
8. Arrangement for controlling a system according to any one of the preceeding claims, wherein the I/O plug-in module (3) has a width of 12 mm and a height of 18 mm in the area in which the I/O plug-in module (3) in the plugged-in state abuts against the control and/or data transfer module (1).

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