FR2861901A1 - Connection device for linking actuator/sensor module to actuator/sensor interface bus, has base plate with two primary and two secondary recesses having flanges to receive flanges of communication and power supply cables, respectively - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a base plate (20) including two primary recesses (31, 51) in which one flange (54) is placed to receive a flange of communication cables, and two secondary recesses (41, 61) in which another flange (44) is placed to receive a flange of auxiliary power supply cables. A case removably fixed on the plate has clip contacts connecting the case with conductors of the cables. An independent claim is also included for an automatism module with axial flange, of a communication bus.

Description

2861901 1

  The present invention relates to a device for connecting to a communication bus, the support of which consists of one or more flat cables with axial polarization. Such a connection device allows in particular the connection of different modules or automation components to a communication bus, such as the AS-i bus (Actuator / Sensor Interface).

  Communication buses are very frequently used in distributed automation architectures to communicate various automation modules such as sensors, actuators, variable speed drives, human-machine dialogue components, PLC couplers. programmable, or others. In known manner, the information of some communication buses are carried by a flat cable composed of a non-twisted pair of conductors and having an axial polarization along the entire length of the cable. Since the two conductors of the flat cable have a reverse polarity, the axial coding is necessary to differentiate the two conductors, so as not to risk connecting to the cable in reverse.

  However this keying causes a constraint for the installation and the connection of the automation modules to the bus since, for example, two adjacent modules but positioned in a different orientation, may require the need to return the cable. However, the shape of the flat cable gives it a large radius of curvature, which makes it difficult to turn operations.

  Furthermore, in certain automation configurations, the connection to a communication bus additionally uses an additional flat cable which serves to carry an auxiliary power supply, which is intended in particular to supply actuator type modules connected to the communication bus. . For a DC auxiliary power supply, the additional flat cable also has two conductors of opposite polarity and has the same shape and the same keying as the main bus cable, but differing for example by a different color. It therefore generates the same constraints at the installation and connection of the automation modules. When an AC auxiliary power supply is used, the two conductors of the additional flat cable have no polarity.

  EP1166395 already discloses a device for connecting an axially coded coded flat cable, which allows the installation of the cable in various positions. In this device, the openings for accommodating the flat cable have a shape complementary to the polarization of the flat cable on their two side walls, so that the implementation of the cable is carried out indifferently in one or the other direction. However, this solution may require the use of a particular electronics to overcome the problems of polarity of the conductors in the direction of the installed cable. This solution may also require the use of additional opening contact pins to cover all possible cable installation configurations, as well as the use of a separate adapter piece placed along one or the other other side walls openings to hold the cable in its housing.

  The object of the invention is therefore to propose a simple and economical device for connecting automation modules to a communication bus, which does not have the disadvantages mentioned and authorizes the installation in several positions of an axial cable with an axial coding for communication and a flat cable with axial coding for the auxiliary power supply. Another object of the invention is to propose a connection device capable of branching the communication bus by permitting the branches of the flat communication cable as well as the auxiliary power flat cable.

  For this, the invention describes a device which comprises a base having a plurality of cavities, each cavity having two side walls and an axial coding so as to have a shape complementary to the shape of the flat cable. The device comprises a housing removably attached to the base and provided with contact pins for connection to conductors or cables housed in the fingerprints. The base comprises two first indentations whose axial polarization is placed along a lower side wall, and two second indentations whose axial polarization is placed along an upper side wall, opposite to the lower side wall.

  According to one feature, the base comprises two main traces each capable of accommodating a flat communication cable and two auxiliary impressions each capable of accommodating a flat auxiliary power cable. The first two prints and the second two prints respectively correspond to a main print and an auxiliary print.

  According to another characteristic, the housing comprises a printed circuit on which are fixed contact pins for connection with a first and a second conductor of each flat cable housed in the cavities.

  The invention also relates to an automation module connected to one or more flat cables with axial polarization of a communication bus through such a connecting device.

  Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a base of a connection device according to the invention with a single flat cable inserted into the base, FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of a cross-sectional view of the base and the housing of a connection device, FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in plan view of two adjacent inverted-mounted bases receiving two flat cables, FIG. 4 schematizes a base receiving four axially-polarized flat cables, to effect a bypass of the communication bus, FIG. structure of a flat cable with axial coding.

  With reference to FIG. 2, a device for connecting to a communication bus, such as the AS-i bus, comprises a base 20 and a housing 10 which is removably attached to the base 20, in particular by means of screws or others.

  The base 20 can receive one or more flat cables with axial polarization serving as support for the communication bus. The housing 10 comprises a printed circuit 11 from which contact pins 15,16 come out which are able to come into electrical contact with the conductors of the flat cable or cables of the base when the housing 10 is mounted on the base 20 .

  The housing 10 of the connection device may comprise one or more external connectors (not shown in the figures) connected to the printed circuit 11, so as to connect one or more external automation modules to the connection device. The connection device then acts as a distributor of the communication bus to this or these automation modules. The casing 10 1061901 can also be integral part of an automation module directly connected to the communication bus.

  Furthermore, the housing 10 of the connection device may comprise an electronic signal processing of the communication bus (in the form of an ASIC component for example) so as to constitute an active splitter capable of receiving one or more automation modules. simple, such as traditional sensors / actuators. Alternatively, the connection device does not include a signal processing electronics of the communication bus and therefore constitutes a passive distributor or a passive connection tee for connecting to the communication bus one or more communicating automation modules equipped with their own electronic processing.

  Figure 5 shows a flat cable 70 used in a communication bus such as the AS-i bus. The flat cable 70 has a front face 73 opposite a rear face 74 shorter than the front face 73, located between two side faces. It comprises two polarized conductors 75,76, not twisted surrounded by a sheath made of a flexible insulating material. To avoid any risk of polarity reversal between the first conductor 75 and the second conductor 76 during the connections, the cable 70 must have no symmetry along its longitudinal planes P1 and P2.

  This is why the flat cable 70 comprises an axial coding which is embodied by a protuberance 79 present on a part of one of the lateral faces of the cable and directed towards the outside of this lateral face, for example on the side of the first conductor 75. The protrusion 79 extends over the entire length of the cable 70, thus giving it a large radius of curvature making it difficult to return.

  In known manner, the sheath of the flat cable 70 can be pierced by the contact pins 15,16 of the housing 10 and is self-healing when the contact pins are removed. The pins 15, 16 are thus arranged so that, when the housing 10 is fixed on the base 20, they can pass through the sheath of the flat cable 70 and come into contact with the first conductor 75, respectively the second conductor 76.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the base 20 is substantially parallelepipedal shape and comprises a front face 25 and an opposite rear face 27, 2861901 5 and four side faces. One of the two lateral faces parallel to the longitudinal axis of passage of the flat cable or cables in the base, will be called upper face 26 in the present document. The rear face 27 of the base may comprise fastening means 29 for holding the connecting device against a mounting bracket, such as a DIN profile rail in the example of Figure 2. Regardless, the rear face 27 the base can also be pressed onto a machine frame, so as to fix the connection device directly to the machine frame with screws.

  The front face 25 of the base receives four longitudinal indentations 31, 41, 51, 61 which are substantially parallel to each other and intended to receive from one to four flat axially polarized cables 30, 30, 50, 60 respectively, of identical construction to the flat cable 70 previously described.

  The 30.40 flat cables are called communication cables and the 50.60 cables are called auxiliary power cables. Indeed, in the case of the AS-i bus, the communication cable 30, 40 serves to convey the information flowing on the communication bus and also provides a power supply, for example 24VDC, for the automation modules connected to the bus, which simplifies their implementation.

  However, some modules, such as actuators, consume significant electrical energy which makes it necessary additional power. This auxiliary power supply can then be provided by a 50.60 auxiliary power flat cable similar to the 30.40 communication cable. In this case, the connection of such a module to the communication bus requires two flat cables: a communication cable and an auxiliary power cable.

  In FIG. 1, the longitudinal imprints 31, 41, 51, 61 each comprise a lateral wall 42, 52, called the bottom wall, which is on the side farthest from the upper face 26 of the base 20 and an opposite lateral wall. 43,53, called upper wall, which is on the side closer to the upper face 26.

  The two side walls of an imprint surround a bottom 45,55, to thus give the imprint a flared U shape. The impressions are designed to have a shape complementary to the shape of the flat cable 70, that is to say that they also comprise, on one of their side walls, an axial polarization, materialized in the form of a rim. , 54, to accommodate the protuberance 79 of the cable 70.

  2861901 6 When a flat cable is inserted in a recess, the rear face 74 of the cable is pressed against the bottom 45,55 of the cavity and the front face 73 of the cable is substantially flush with the front face 25 of the base 20. Preferably, each cavity 31,41,51,61 further comprises one or more tabs 28 arranged on the front face 25 to better maintain the flat cable in its footprint.

  According to the invention, the base 20 comprises two first cavities 31, 51 whose rim 54, which is adapted to receive the axial coding 79 of a flat cable, is positioned along the lower lateral wall 52 of the cavities 31, 51, and two second impressions 41,61 whose rim 44 is positioned along the upper side wall 43 of the imprints 41,61.

  Thus, as indicated in FIG. 2, the first two cavities 31, 51 can accommodate a flat cable 30, 50 whose axial coding is oriented opposite the upper surface 26 and the two second cavities 41, 61 can accommodate a cable flat 40,60 in the opposite direction, that is to say with the axial keying oriented towards the upper face 26. With this arrangement, the connecting device can be connected regardless of the direction of passage of the cables, this which allows to get rid of their large radius of curvature. Equivalently, it is clear that one could also design a base 20 in which the first imprints 31,51 and the second imprints 41,61 would have reversed dispositions.

  The base comprises two main tracks 31,41 intended to be able to receive each a flat communication cable, respectively 30,40, and two auxiliary cavities 51,61 intended to receive each a flat auxiliary supply cable, respectively 50,60 . Consequently, the first two cavities 31, 51 correspond to a main cavity 31 and an auxiliary cavity 51, and the second two cavities 41, 61 also correspond to a main cavity 41 and an auxiliary cavity 61.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the set of contact pins 15,16 of the housing 10 are directly fixed on the printed circuit 11. The pins 15, 16 respectively, are arranged to be able to connect to the first conductor 75, respectively to the second conductor 76, 30,40,50,60 flat cable mounted on each imprint 31,41,51,61. For a better connection efficiency, each pin of contacts may consist of a pair of distinct pins aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cable.

  As indicated in FIG. 2, the contact pins 15 corresponding to the first conductor 75 of the communication cables 30, 40 housed in the main imprints 31, 41 are electrically interconnected at the level of the printed circuit 11. Similarly, the contact pins 16 corresponding to the second conductor 76 communication cables 30,40 housed in the main imprints 31,41 are electrically interconnected at the level of the printed circuit 11. Thanks to this, the use of the main imprint 31 or 41 to accommodate a communication cable of the communication bus is indifferent. This solution has the advantage of not using an electronic component at the printed circuit board to manage the polarities of the two conductors of the cables. At the same time, the contact pins corresponding to the first conductor of the auxiliary cables 50, 60 housed in the auxiliary cavities 51, 61 are electrically connected to each other at the printed circuit 11, as are the contact pins corresponding to the second conductor of the auxiliary cables. , 60 housed in the auxiliary impressions 51,61.

  When a user wants to connect the connection device to a communication bus, he therefore has the choice to use either the first main imprint 31 or the second main imprint 41 as a function of the arrangement of the flat communication cable 30, he wants to connect the device. Similarly, if it needs an auxiliary power supply, it can use either the first auxiliary cavity 51 or the second auxiliary cavity 61 depending on the provision of the auxiliary power cable 50,60 to which it wants to connect the device. It therefore benefits from a simple solution in all cases.

  Thus, in the example of FIG. 3, a base 20 of a connection device receives a communication cable 30 in the first main cavity 31 and an auxiliary power cable 50 in the first auxiliary cavity 51. A base 20 Another connecting device is mounted next to the base 20 but in an inverted manner, since the upper faces 26 and 26 'of the bases 20 and 20' are opposed. The presence of the protrusion 39, 59 of the flat cables 30, 50 (indicated in bold lines in the cables of FIGS. 3 and 4) makes it difficult then to introduce them into the first cavities 31 'and 51' of the base 20 'whose edge is on the wrong side. However, thanks to the invention, the cable 30 can be easily introduced into the second main cavity 41 'and the cable 50 into the second auxiliary cavity 61', without the need to loop with the cables, without also needing to turn them along a longitudinal axis and without adding additional parts to hold the cables.

  Furthermore, the connection device described in the invention also makes it possible very easily to bypass the communication bus. Indeed, Figure 4 shows a base 20 traversed by a first flat communication cable 30 housed in the first main cavity 31, and by a first auxiliary supply cable 50 housed in the first auxiliary cavity 51. In addition, a second communication cable 40 is housed in the second main cavity 41 and a second auxiliary cable 60 is housed in the second auxiliary cavity 61. Given the electrical connections existing between the contact pins in the printed circuit 11 (see FIG. 2), each conductor second cables 40,60 is connected to each conductor of the first cables 30,50 respectively. The second cables 40,60 can then constitute the beginning of a branch of the communication bus, once the housing 10 is fixed on the base 20.

  The connecting device also comprises one or more end pieces 80, made of flexible insulating material, such as an elastomer. The shape of a tip 80 is designed to be able to easily fit and stay in all or part of an impression, in particular thanks to a cross section substantially identical to the section of a flat cable 70. This or these tips have for the purpose of plugging the imprints of a base that are unused or partially used. To facilitate the task of a user, one can provide a tip 80 quickly sectionable in three parts, with pre-cut shapes: a central portion 81 and two side portions 82 on each side. The central portion 81 has holes 83 which are positioned to receive the pins of the contact pins 15, 16 when the housing 10 is fixed on the base 20, thus ensuring a seal when there is no flat cable in a fingerprint.

  In the example of Figure 3, the unused impressions 41,61,31 ', 51' of the bases 20,20 'are thus filled with end pieces 80,80' whole. In the example of Figure 4, the fingerprints 41,61 are only partially used since they serve as a departure for branch cables. The tip is then cut and only one of the side portions 82 is used so as to seal the empty portion of the partially used fingerprint. The tip 82 also serves to seal the conductors at the ends of the bypass cables 40,60.

  It is understood that one can, without departing from the scope of the invention, imagine other variants and improvements in detail and even consider the use of equivalent means.

Claims (11)

  Device for connecting one or more flat cables (30, 40, 50, 60) axially polarized to a communication bus, comprising: a base (20) having a plurality of cavities (31, 41, 51, 61) , each cavity having two side walls (42,43,52,53) and an axial keying (44,54) so as to have a shape complementary to the shape of the flat cable, a housing (10) removably fixed on the base (20) and provided with 10 contact pins (15, 16) allowing the connection with conductors of the cable or cables housed in the cavities (31, 41, 51, 61), characterized in that the base (20 ) comprises two first indentations (31,51) whose axial polarization (54) is placed along a lower lateral wall (52), and two second indentations (41,61) whose axial polarization (44) is placed along an upper side wall (43), opposite to the lower side wall.   2. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (20) comprises two main cavities (31,41) each capable of accommodating a flat communication cable (30,40) and two auxiliary cavities (51). , 61) each capable of accommodating a flat auxiliary supply cable (50, 60).   3. Connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first two indentations (31,51) correspond to a main imprint (31) and an auxiliary cavity (51).   4. Connecting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the two second indentations (41,61) correspond to a main imprint (41) and an auxiliary cavity (61).   Connection device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the housing (10) comprises a printed circuit (11) on which contact pins (15, 16) for connection with a first and a second conductor are fixed. each flat cable accommodated (30, 40, 50, 60) in the cavities (31, 41, 51, 61).   2861901 11 Connecting device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the contact pins (15) corresponding to the first conductor (75) of the communication cables (30, 40) housed in the main cavities (31, 41) are electrically connected. between them in the printed circuit (11) and the contact pins (16) corresponding to the second conductor (76) of the communication cables (30,40) housed in the main imprints (31,41) are electrically connected to each other in the printed circuit board (11).   Connecting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact pins (15) corresponding to the first conductor (75) of the auxiliary cables (50, 60) housed in the auxiliary cavities (51, 61) are electrically connected between they in the printed circuit (11) and the contact pins (16) corresponding to the second conductor (76) of the auxiliary cables (50, 60) housed in the auxiliary cavities (51, 61) are electrically connected to each other in the printed circuit (11).   8. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that each imprint (31,41,51,61) of the base (20) comprises one or more tongues (28) for holding the flat cable housed in the footprint.   9. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises a tip (80) made of flexible material, of cross section substantially identical to the section of a flat cable (70), and which is insertable into any or part of an imprint (31,41,51, 61) of the base (20).   10. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base comprises a front face (25) receiving the cavities (31, 41, 51, 61) and an opposite rear face (27) having fixing means ( 29) of the connection device to a mounting bracket.   11. Automation module connected to one or more flat cables with axial polarization of a communication bus, characterized in that the connection of the automation module with the flat cable or cables (30, 40, 50, 60) of the communication bus is performed through a connection device   according to one of the preceding claims.