FR2707803A1 - Device for connecting an electronic card to electrical cables and method of connection - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for connecting an input/output electronic card (1) to electrical cables (2), comprising a bus (7), a first means (16) of connection to the said bus, a second means (3) of connection to the said electrical cables, means (5) for electrical linkage between the said first and second connection means (16, 3), a first support means (6), a housing (8) carrying the said first support means, a second support means (9), which comprises a locking means (11) for fixing the said second support means to a rail (10), the said locking means comprising a positioning and elastic-immobilisation means (20) and an immobilisation means (22). The connection method consists in connecting a plurality of connection devices according to the invention to an input/output electronic card (1) by means of the bus (7). Applications especially to electronic products, in particular to programmable controllers (automata).

Description

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING AN ELECTRONIC BOARD TO
ELECTRIC CABLES AND CONNECTION METHOD
The present invention concerns the field of electronics and electrical engineering, and more particularly that of the connection of automation components, in particular programmable controllers or industrial computers, used for example in process monitoring and control. .

 Prior Art teaches us in particular a device and a method for connecting components of an electronic product such as a PLC connected to at least one process by electrical cables, which consists in connecting a card via a general bus power supply, a central unit card, and a plurality of process control input / output cards, the latter having connectors for direct connection of electrical cables. In advanced products, there may also be a plurality of central unit cards linked together by means of a particular bus.

 Electronic cards, in particular input / output cards, include two different types of logic: logic compatible with that of the general bus and the central unit, and logic compatible with the generally higher voltage and current levels of sensors / process actuators monitored or controlled. These input / output cards are often in the form of an insulating plate carrying a printed circuit, electronic components, a plug connector to the general bus, and a connector to the electrical cables for connection to the process sensors / actuators. One of the two parts, male or female, of the plug connector to the general bus is schematically installed on one of the edges of the insulating plate, which makes it possible to present the card against a support carrying in particular the bus, by said edge. The connector for electrical cables, generally linear in shape, is installed on another edge of the plate, and in most cases determines the size of this card, said connector having a relatively large non-compressible volume, necessary for the connection of all cables independently of each other.

 It may be noted that such a connection method has certain drawbacks, such as in particular an absence of modular appearance in the possibilities of connection to the processes, once the input / output card has been developed. Indeed, there is no such cards the possibility to modify the cable connectors if necessary. This method also has the disadvantage of imposing a footprint of cards and therefore of product, almost from that of connectors to cables, electronic components, currently more and more compact, and therefore more and more reduced footprint. , allowing in themselves a significant reduction in the size of electronic cards.

 The device and the connection method according to the invention make it possible to remedy these various drawbacks. More specifically, the subject of the invention is a device for connecting an electronic input / output card to a plurality of electrical cables, characterized in that it comprises at least one bus connecting to said electronic input / output card , a first means of connection to said bus, a second means of connection to said electrical cables, means of electrical connection between said first and second connection means, a first means of supporting at least said first and second connection means.

 The advantage of such a device is to be independent of the electronic card, and to form an autonomous connection unit, which can be multiplied as required, as will be developed later in the description of the connection method according to the invention. 'invention.

 The connection between the bus and the input / output card is advantageously carried out by means of a male / female connector with conventional plugs of small dimensions, one of the parts of which, male or female, is fixed to said card. In this way, the input / output card no longer carrying the connector for electrical cables, but a reduced size plug connector commonly used in bus connections, it is possible to significantly reduce the dimensions of the card.

 According to another characteristic, the device according to the invention comprises, a housing carrying said first support means, a second support means, means for fixing said housing to said second support means, the latter comprising, according to another characteristic , means for holding the bus.

 The advantage is thus obtained of being able to fix the first support means on a second support means, which can serve as a support means for all of the electronic cards making up a product such as a machine for example.

 According to another characteristic, said second support means comprises at least one latch means for fixing said second support means on a rail, said latch means comprising at least, elastic positioning and locking means comprising a rubbery part, and a blocking means.

 This locking means according to the invention, in particular provides rapidity in fixing the second support means on a rail, in particular standard of the type of those which conventionally equip automation cabinets widely used in the electronic or electrotechnical industry. Said locking means advantageously makes it possible to lock and unlock said second support means on said rail by a pressure movement of the operator, without using any particular tool. This locking means will be explained in more detail below in the description of an exemplary embodiment thereof.

 The invention also relates to a connection method, characterized in that it consists in connecting a plurality of connection devices according to the invention to an electronic input / output card, by means of a first bus.

 This process brings an essential advantage in the modular aspect of connection. In fact, it is possible to connect, for example additional processes compared to the initial design, to the same input / output card, by simply adding other devices according to the invention connected via the first bus.

 According to a particular characteristic, the method consists in connecting a plurality of said electronic input / output cards to a central unit card by means of a second bus, said central unit card being able to be connected, according to another characteristic, to other unit cards. central by means of a third bus.

 Finally, a last characteristic consists in maintaining said first, second and third buses on the same support means.

 Thus, it is possible to group together all of the central unit and input / output electronic cards, and the devices according to the invention on the same support means carrying the first, second and third buses, in order to rationalize and render more compact the assemblies, in particular of the components of automata and to optimize the lengths of bus.

 Note the tree shape of the connection structure provided by such a method, from the third bus, to the devices according to the invention, and passing through three bus levels.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description of the examples which follow, accompanied by the appended drawings, of an embodiment of a method and embodiments of a device according to the invention, these examples being given by way of illustration and without any restrictive interpretation of the protection sought being able to be drawn from it.

 Figure 1 shows in perspective a connection device according to the invention of an electronic input / output card to a plurality of electrical cables.

 Figure 2 shows in perspective said connection device comprising a housing, a rigid profile, the latter being fixed on a rail by means of a lock.

 Figure 3 shows in cross section said rigid section fixed to said rail by said latch.

 Figure 4 shows in perspective an example of implementation of the tree connection method between electronic central unit cards, electronic input / output cards, connection devices according to the invention, and electrical cables.

 The device for connecting an electronic input / output card 1 to a plurality of electric cables 2 shown in FIG. 1, comprises: a rigid insulating plate 6 comprising in particular a printed circuit 5, a conventional connector 3 for electric cables advantageously fixed by welding on the printed circuit 5, said connector comprising independent means for fixing each of the cables, a connector 16 with conventional plugs, a first part of which, male or female, is advantageously fixed by welding on the printed circuit 5, a bus 7 carrying a second complementary part of the connector 16, the said bus 7 consisting of a bundle of electrical cables forming a sheet, and itself connected to the electronic input / output card 1 by a connector 4 with conventional plugs, of the type of the connector 16 with cards.

 The printed circuit 5 makes it possible to wire to wire the electrical connection between the connector 3 and the first part of the connector 16 with plugs.

 It should be noted that the example according to Figure 1 shows only a single conventional connector 3 for electric cables, but that the device allows to place much more.

Indeed, the almost total surface of the insulating plate 6, with the exception of the surface occupied by the printed circuit, can be reserved for the location of a plurality of connectors for electrical cables of the type of connector 3, while in the prior art, only one of the edges of the input / output card is reserved for this use, the surface of said card being occupied by electronic components. It can be added that, as required, the insulating plate 6 can also carry various conventional circuit protection elements (not shown in the example), such as fuses, surge arresters, filters, etc. In addition, the addition of a device according to the invention in the design of an electronic product, for example of a PLC, gives rise to the possibility of significantly reducing the size of its input / output cards by deleting them. these connectors for electrical cables.

 The connection device according to FIG. 1 may comprise a casing 8 which is advantageously open, a rigid section 9 carrying said casing 8 fixed to the latter, in particular by means of screws 19, as shown in FIG. 2. In this Figure , the insulating plate 6 is advantageously fitted into the housing 8, by means of notches 17 of shapes complementary to the shape of said housing 8, so as to ensure the positioning and the maintenance of the plate 6 in the housing 8. All other known means for positioning and maintaining the plate 6 in the housing 8, in particular screw means, can be used. The housing 8 is advantageously open, at least in its upper and lower part, so as to ensure the passage of the electric cables 2, Figure 2 illustrating only the use of a lower opening. The rigid profile 9 comprises in particular a gutter 18 intended to hold the bus 7. The length of the profile 9 is determined for fixing a plurality of housings (not shown here), as required.

 According to Figure 3, the rigid section 9 advantageously comprises a lock 11, intended to ensure the fixing of the section 9 on a rail 10, this releasably. In fact, it is most of the time necessary to be able to fix sets of cards and electronic components, in particular in cupboards, on standard rigid rails provided for this purpose. Figure 3 illustrates the attachment to an asymmetrical rigid rail 10 in particular of DIN standard, in cross section. The lock 1 1 can have a continuous or discontinuous length at most equal to that of the section 9.

 This lock is remarkable in that it comprises, a recess 20 serving as a means of positioning and elastic blocking on the rail 10, this recess 20 comprising a rubbery part, advantageously formed in an elastomer cylinder 12 placed in the bottom of said recess 20, a recess 22 serving as a blocking means on the rail 10 at the end of locking, and advantageously a ramp 21 serving to transform the thrust force of the operator on said lock into a compression force of said cylinder 12 in elastomer.

 The operator uses the lock 1 1 in the following manner: he positions the profile 9 bearing on the rail 10 by means of the elastomer cylinder 12 and the recess 20, then advantageously brings the profile 9 into contact with the ramp 21 on the rail 10, by pivoting said profile 9 around the fulcrum described above, and then exerts a continuous thrust on said profile 9, so as to compress the cylinder 12 into elastomer by sliding on the ramp 21, until the recess 22 fits into the rail 10, under the effect of the elasticity of the cylinder 12 made of elastomer, thus ensuring the fixing of the profile 9 on the rail 10.

 To dismantle the profile 9 from the rail 10, the operator need only compress the cylinder 12 by exerting an adequate thrust on the profile 9 until the rail 10 is released from the recess 22. The profile 9 is then free from the rail 10 .

 As will have been noted, the ramp 21 is not essential for the operation of the lock according to the invention, the latter making it possible to facilitate the locking operation by transforming a substantially horizontal thrust force on the lock 11 into a substantially vertical compressive force of the cylinder 12 in elastomer, and by multiplying said thrust force, by its advantageous shape substantially in an arc. The direction of the thrust and compression forces, respectively horizontal and vertical, being indicated by reference to the position of the profile and the latch as shown in Figure 3.

 It should also be noted that the choices of the elastomer and of the cylinder shape proposed in the embodiment given as an example for the rubber part 12 is absolutely not restrictive, all other sufficiently elastic materials and shapes being suitable.

 It should be noted that the locking or unlocking operation is very fast, precise and safe, while requiring no tools, which provides a big advantage, especially for interventions in automation cabinets, which often offer accessibility difficult.

The example of implementation of the connection method according to FIG. 4 illustrates a bundle of electrical cables 2 connected to two connection devices D1, D2 according to the invention, themselves connected to a first electronic input / output card 1 , by means of a first bus 7, said first electronic input / output card 1 being connected with a second electronic input / output card 1 'to a first central unit card UC1, by means of a second bus 14, said first card UCI central unit being connected to a second UC2 central unit card, by means of a third bus 15, said second central unit card
UC2 can itself be connected to a structure composed of input / output cards and connection devices according to the invention such as that which is connected to the first central unit card UC1.

 As will have been noted, The example described above illustrates only one particular case of implementation of the connection method according to the invention, the latter being able of course to offer all other possibilities of adding electronic cards. and / or devices according to the invention as required.

 We can note the tree structure of the connection from the third bus 15, to the devices D1, D2, providing large advantages, in particular with regard to the increased capacities for connection to the electrical cables for process control.

 The first, second and third buses 7, 14, 15, shown parallel in Figure 4, can advantageously be maintained on the same profile 9, not illustrated in Figure 4, the latter allowing in this case the fixing of all the cards of the electronic product through housings, in a similar manner to that shown in Figure 2.

 The means by which the device and the connection method according to the invention are capable of industrial application, are those, as will have been noted throughout the description, already widely used in the electronic connector industry and the metallurgical or plastics industry, which has in particular the advantage of a possibility of mass production.

Claims (12)

 1. Device for connecting an electronic input / output card (1) to a plurality of electrical cables (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one bus (7) for connection to said electronic input / card outputs, a first means (16) for connection to said bus, a second means (3) for connection to said electric cables (2), means (5) for electrical connection between said first and second connection means (16, 3), first means (6) for supporting at least said first and second connection means (16, 3).  2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said first means of connection to said bus (7) comprises at least one plug connector (16) male / female, one of the parts of which, male or female, is carried by said first support means (6).  3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said electrical connection means comprise at least one printed circuit (5) on said first support means (6).  4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least, a housing (8) carrying said first support means (6), a second support means (9), means (19) for fixing said housing to said second support means.  5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said second support means (9) comprises at least means (18) for holding said bus (7).  6. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said second support means (9) comprises at least one latch means (11) for fixing said second support means on a rail (10), said latch means comprising at least one elastic positioning and locking means (20) comprising a rubbery part (12), and a locking means (22).  7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that said rubbery part consists of a cylinder (12) made of a material chosen from the following materials: - elastomer, - rubber.  8. Device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said latch means comprises means (21) for converting a thrust force on said latch into a compression force for said rubbery part (12).  9. Connection method, characterized in that it consists in connecting a plurality of connection devices (dol, D2) according to any one of the preceding claims to an electronic input / output card (1), by means of a first bus (7).  10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that it consists in connecting a plurality of electronic input / output cards (1, 1 ') to a central unit card (UC1) by means of a second bus (14).  11. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that it consists in connecting a plurality of central unit cards (UC1, UC2) by means of a third bus (15).  12. Method according to any one of Claims 9, 10, or 11, characterized in that it consists in maintaining at least said first, second, and third bus (7, 14, 15), said plurality of connection devices (dol, D2), said plurality of electronic input / output cards (1, 1 '), and said plurality of central processing cards (UC1, UC2) on said second support means (9).