FR2875373A1 - Electrical start motor controlling, monitoring and commanding system for e.g. industrial automation, has switchgear modules e.g. circuit breaker, contactor and thermal relay connected to terminals and power prewiring units - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has bases (10) with a front side provided with locations. Each base has a control printed circuit with control terminal at the level of each location and upstream control connectors, and power prewiring units. Switchgear modules e.g. circuit breaker (50a), contactor (50b) and thermal relay (50c), are removably fixed on the locations and electrically connected to the terminals and prewiring units.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical control system

  allowing the control / command management of one or more low voltage electrical loads, such as for example one or more electric motors. The system has a modular architecture that will simplify the realization

  simple automation, in particular industrial automation or building automation.

  The control / control of electrical motor starters may require the use of several power functions and several control functions such as: isolation, interruption, protection against short circuits, thermal protection, order and control logic, startup , signaling, measurement, communication, etc. Usually, the power functions are performed by various power devices that are installed between an upstream power supply and the load (s) to control and / or control located downstream. These power devices include, for example, magnetic or magneto-thermal circuit breakers, contactors, thermal protection relays, fuses, soft starters, power supplies, power terminals, and so on.

  In addition, certain power equipment can be associated with each other to perform simple logic functions of starter motor starter, star-delta start, etc ... DTD: The control functions are performed by various control devices that may optionally be connected to various automation equipment, such as a PLC, by means of inputs / outputs and / or communication buses.

  These control devices are for example of the type sensors, measurement relays, timers, communication interfaces, human machine interfaces, control terminals, etc ...

  There is often a great disparity of forms and means of electrical equipment containing the different devices used in the management of the control / command of an engine. The installation and production of these equipment and the implementation of these devices therefore lead to mechanical connections and electrical connections of power and control that are long, tedious and sources of error. Solutions already exist that offer predefined prewiring elements. However, if the various devices that can be used in the composition of simple electrical equipment have different shapes, this leads to a multiplication of the number of different types of pre-wiring elements for connecting the equipment to each other, and the solution quickly becomes expensive. and impractical.

  Wire-to-wire wiring is now a major source of error. Only qualified electricians can connect equipment in equipment because they can read and interpret a circuit diagram. These connection difficulties are further increased as the equipment is miniaturized. The identification with respect to electrical diagrams (control and power) is also a difficulty. It would therefore be interesting to be able to make and wire electrical equipment by identifying directly with a diagram of assembly or assembly of the various equipment included in the equipment, circuit diagram that could be obtained by transcribing electrical diagrams of the equipment to realize. Testing and locating in cabinets or cabinets would also be greatly facilitated.

  Moreover, when the connections and the position of the products relative to each other are not standardized, it is difficult during the design of electrical equipment to simulate the behavior (heating calculations, electromagnetic compatibility, line impedances, connection lengths for manufacturing, ...).

  This is why the invention proposes a standardization and a modularity of the size of the different devices that may be used in the composition of a system for controlling and controlling one or more motor starters. This system would then allow to freely associate several modules of equipment according to the targeted applications. This system could also provide wiring solutions by providing a limited number of simple prewiring elements usable for a large number of different equipment modules. The user would be prevented from having to carry out the electrical connection of the power and the control between the different equipment modules, in particular to carry out predefined logic functions, or to have to manage too many different pre-wiring elements. In addition, the proposed control system is designed to withstand significant electrical powers, for example with voltages up to 690 Volts.

  For this, the invention describes a modular electrical control system for controlling / controlling one or more electrical charges. The system comprises at least one base having a front face provided with several locations, each base comprising a control printed circuit provided with control terminals at each location and one or more upstream control connectors, and several power pre-wired elements. . The system includes one or more electrical equipment modules removably attached to one or more locations on the base and electrically connected to control terminals and prewiring elements of the base.

  According to one characteristic, the front face of a base comprises on each location of the inlet and outlet ports, which are traversed by the power pins of an equipment module fixed on said base.

  According to another characteristic, the control circuit of a base is disposed between the front face and the pre-wiring elements of said base and the power pins of at least one equipment module fixed on a base pass through the control circuit of said base.

  According to another characteristic, the prewiring elements of a base are removably inserted by a rear face of the base and comprise at least one upstream prewiring element and one or more prewiring elements diagrams.

  According to another characteristic, the front face of a base has several locations of equal size. The locations of the front face are arranged in two rows placed one above the other and each having several locations.

  According to another characteristic, the control system may comprise a plurality of juxtaposed bases electrically interconnected by pre-wired power elements.

  The invention also relates to an equipment module designed to be integrated in such an electrical control system. The equipment module comprises a housing from which input and output power pins come out, which are connected to pre-wiring elements of the base, when said module is fixed on said base. The housing comprises inter-pole separation ribs disposed between the power pins of the adjacent poles of said module, the ribs being inserted in corresponding grooves disposed on each location of the front face of a base, when said module is fixed on said base. The housing also comprises a control terminal which is connected to a control terminal of a control circuit board of a base, when said module is fixed on said base, so that control information is exchanged between the module of switchgear and control circuit board. An equipment module preferably has a width equal to one or two times the width of a location of a base and a height equal to one or two times the height of a location.

  Thus, many modules of control and / or control equipment can be quickly and easily associated together on one or more bases to compose an electrical equipment. As some of these equipment modules can also be used alone, such as a contactor, a relay module or a tempo module, they are designed to be able to either be mounted removably on a base, or be mounted on a unitary base, either be welded directly to an electronic card.

  Other features and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows with reference to an embodiment given by way of example and represented by the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a system conforming to FIG. The invention with a base and three equipment modules, FIG. 2 shows a second example of a system comprising two bases, FIG. 3 represents a rear exploded view detailing the base of the system of FIG. 1, the FIG. 4 shows a side view of an exemplary fitting module.

  The invention describes a modular electrical control system for controlling, monitoring or controlling one or more electrical loads, including motors. The proposed system must be able to simplify the production of small equipment for automations or motor starters by proposing modular elements of prewiring of the control part as well as the power part to connect the different modules of equipment that may be part of the composition. of the system.

  With reference to the figures, an electrical control system comprises at least one base 10 comprising a housing, for example of substantially parallelepipedal shape, made of insulating plastic material, with a rear face 11 capable of being fixed to various fixing means. In particular, the base can be fixed on a standardized profile (DIN rail type 5 in Figure 1), on a mounting plate or even on a printed circuit (see below). The base 10 has on its front face one or more locations for receiving one or more modules of electrical equipment 50a, 50b, 50c. In the preferred embodiment, the base 10 has several locations, preferably of equal size. In FIG. 1, the locations are delimited by dotted dummy lines 15. These locations may be arranged in two rows placed one above the other, each row possibly comprising several locations (in this case , the example of Figure 1 has two rows of two slots each, four locations of equal size for the base 10).

  The base 10 serves to support the various equipment modules that make up the control system. As indicated above, the equipment modules can be indifferently power modules such as contactors, circuit breakers, thermal protection relays, fuses, soft starters, power supplies, power terminal blocks, and the like. / or control modules such as: sensors, measurement or control relays, timers, communication interfaces, human-machine interfaces (such as LEDs, pushbuttons, manual selectors, etc.), control terminals, etc. .... Figure 1 represents for example a simple engine starting system comprising a 50a circuit breaker type module, a contactor type module 50b and a thermal relay type module 50c. The base 10 comprises all the elements which make it possible to connect the power part and the control part of the different equipment modules fixed on this base. The equipment modules 50a, 50b, 50c are removably attached to the front face of the base 10, so as to allow their rapid replacement without changing the wiring.

  To integrate into such a control system, the equipment modules preferably have a standardized form. An equipment module comprises a housing 50 with a front face (possibly having man-machine dialogue means) and a rear face, preferably rectangular, which is intended to be fixed and connected to a base 10. Preferably, a Apparatus module 50 must have a width substantially equal to a multiple of the width of a location (for example once or twice) and must have a height substantially equal to a multiple of the height of a location (for example a or twice), so that the surface of the rear face of an equipment module occupies the surface of a location, two locations, or N locations. In FIG. 1, the modules 50b and 50c use the surface of a location while the module 50a uses the surface of two locations.

  With regard to the power section, the rear face of an equipment module 50 has input and output power pins 52 for each pole as well as inter-pole separation ribs 55 (see FIG. 4) arranged on both sides. other power pins 52 of each pole of the module. The input pins correspond to an arrival of the electrical power current in the module 50 and the output pins correspond to a departure of the power current of the module 50. In a three-phase use, there are therefore three input pins and three output pins (a total of six power pins 52 per module) and four ribs 55. Concerning the control part, the rear face of an equipment module 50 comprises a control terminal 51 grouping the control information and the power supply. electrical control module. The power pins 52 pass through the front face of the base 10 through inlet and outlet ports 17 and the control terminals 51 pass through the front face of the base 10 by control orifices 16 provided on each location (see more details). far).

  In addition, there are equipment modules that fulfill only a control function but no power function, such as an electronic time delay module. In this case, such a module does not need to have power pins 52. It may further be envisaged complementary fastening means to reinforce the maintenance of the modules in the locations of a base, for example the maintaining the ribs 55 but without the pins 52.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the base 10 comprises a control printed circuit 20 which is provided with a control terminal 22 at each location of the base 10 and one or more upstream control connectors 21. Upstream connectors 21 are used to connect the base 10 to external control terminals, for example to connect the base to various automation equipment (such as programmable logic controller or PLC, SCADA type computer system, variable speed drive, etc.). .. by means of inputs / outputs or communication buses) or external control power supplies.

  The control circuit 20 is disposed under the front face of the base 10, between the front face of the base and pre-wiring power elements. The upstream control connector (s) 21 of the circuit 20 are located opposite corresponding orifices 12 present on the front face of the base 10, positioned for example at one end of the base so as not to encroach on the locations. The control terminals 22 of the circuit 20 are intended to be connected with the control terminals 51 of the equipment modules fixed on the base, through the control orifices 16 at each location of the front face of the base. Thus, control information can be exchanged in both directions between a module 50 and the printed circuit 20.

  In a first simple embodiment, there is an upstream control connector 21 corresponding to each control terminal 22 and the printed circuit 20 only serves to distribute or dispatcher the control information between the upstream connectors 21 and the different connection points. controls 22.51 of the modules of each location.

  The control circuit 20 can also respond to other types of applications. Thus, in a second embodiment, the control circuit 20 comprises a network interface component capable of communicating the different equipment modules fixed on the base 10 on a communication bus, such as a fieldbus (fieldbus ) of ASi type. This communication bus is then connected to an upstream control connector 21. Another upstream connector 21 can be used to power the various modules attached to the base 10. The control circuit 20 then has one or more interface components of the communication bus as well as a processing unit, for converting the signals of the communication bus into information available on the control terminals 22 of each location.

  The processing unit, in particular of the microcontroller type, could also directly perform logic functions between input and output information from or to equipment modules fixed on the base 10. This processing unit could then be connected to the modules via an internal bus, for example a type I2C bus well suited to this application, with an I2C component at each location to transform the signals of the I2C bus into information available on the control terminals 22.

  To simplify the implementation of the invention, the format and the pin assignment of the control terminals 22, 51 are preferably identical for all the types of modules 50a, 50b, 50c, so that any fitting module can be fixed. at any location on any base 10. For example, it is possible to choose 9-point connectors, with a male connector for the terminal 51 of a module 50 and a female connector for the terminals 22 of the printed circuit 20, each point of a connector corresponding to a predetermined information or signal: control power supply of the switchgear module, dispatch of commands and setpoints to the switchgear module, feedback of information and measurements from the module equipment, etc.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the base 10 also comprises several power pre-wired elements 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35. The power pre-wired elements comprise at least one upstream prewiring element 35 for supplying and distributing the power supply to the base 10, in particular from a power supply unit 60. The power pre-wired elements comprise also one or more prewiring elements diagrams 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d for making the power connections between the different equipment modules mounted on the base 10 and with power downstream terminals 40 to the electrical loads to be controlled. These pre-wiring diagram elements are removably mounted in a base, so that different electrical diagrams can be easily made according to the applications.

  These pre-wired elements 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35 are preferably composed of electrical conductors which are embedded or overmolded in an insulating plastic material. This embodiment makes it possible to easily and economically pass high voltages (up to 690 Volts) in a small footprint, which would not be possible with a power wiring made on tracks of a printed circuit for example. This advantageously allows to keep small sizes for the base 10 even when using high voltages.

  Depending on the function they occupy, the pre-wiring elements have at their ends: contact tongs 31 which cooperate with power input and output pins 52 of the equipment modules mounted on the base 10, through inlet and outlet ports 17 in the front face of the base 10, power supply pins 36 which cooperate with clamps 62 of an upstream power supply block 60, through orifices 19 in the rear face 11 of the base 10, and / or power start pins 32 which cooperate with clamps 45 of a downstream power terminal block 40, through orifices 13 in the front face of the base 10.

  There are different forms of pre-wiring elements schemas whose association allows to realize various electrical schematics to fulfill different functions. For example, the element 30c of FIG. 3 makes it possible to electrically connect the input pins of one equipment module with the output pins of another adjacent module. The element 30d allows a derivation to the input pins of two different modules from the output pins of a first module. The elements 30a and 30b each make it possible to connect the output pins of a module with a downstream terminal block 40.

  Thus, by associating a limited number of predefined pre-wiring elements with different equipment modules, various simple functions of protections and motor starters are easily realized: inverter, star-delta starting, two-way operation, etc. ..

  To easily integrate the control prewiring and the power prewiring inside the same base, the embodiment described provides that the control printed circuit 20 has one or more openings 23 which are crossed by the power pins 52. at least one equipment module fixed to the base 10, which allows power connections 31, 52 to pass through the circuit 20. Thanks to these openings 23 in the control circuit, the same base 10 can Once complete the functions of pre-wiring control and pre-wiring power. In another embodiment, it could have been provided, on the contrary, that certain control connections 22, 51 pass through prewiring power elements, but the implementation would doubtless have been more complex and more sensitive to parasites.

  The rear face 11 of the base 10 is detachable so that, when removed, it is very easy to introduce the control circuit 20 the prewiring elements 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35 into the base 10.

  The implementation of a modular control system proceeds as follows: when the rear face 11 of the base is removed, the printed circuit 20 is first introduced by the rear of the base 10, then the various pre-wired elements 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, corresponding to the desired electrical power scheme of the control system are also introduced through the rear of the base 10, before closing the rear face 11. The various modules of FIG. Apparatus 50 are then placed in the desired locations on the front face of the base 10. The system can then be installed in a cabinet, a cabinet, a machine frame or the like.

  During a maintenance operation, a user can very easily replace a defective switchgear module without having to perform any wiring operation. Indeed, the attachment of an equipment module on a base allows to do in one operation all power connections and control necessary to the module, thus simplifying the task of the user.

  For the power part, each location of the base 10 has inlet and outlet ports 17 allowing passage of the input and output power pins 52 of a module 50 fixed to the base 10 for connection with power contact tongs 31 from prewiring elements 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35.

  In addition to the inlet and outlet ports 17 which are traversed by pins 52 of a module 50 fixed on the base 10 for connection with clamps 31, the front face of the base 10 has grooves 18 of on both sides of each pole. The inter-pole ribs 55 of a module 50 fit into corresponding grooves 18, when the module 50 is fixed on the base. The purpose of the grooves 18 and ribs 55 is to ensure a sufficient isolation distance between the poles of the power pins 52. The set of grooves 18 and ribs 55 allows the compactness of the control system, particularly under high voltages up to 690 volts. The set of grooves 18 and ribs 55 is also intended to better ensure the attachment and maintenance of an equipment module 50 on the base 10.

  The modular control system can use multiple bases. FIG. 2 shows an example of a modular control system made from two bases 10, 10 'mounted side by side and on which several equipment modules 50 are fixed. A first power supply unit 60 supplies power to the power supply. base 10, for example from a power bus 61. A second power supply unit 60 'identical is connected to the block 60 and feeds the base 10'.

  An end-of-feed plug 63 is placed behind the second power supply 60 'to isolate the power leads. Optionally, the invention provides notches 19 on the lateral sides of the bases 10, 10 'so as to allow certain power pre-wiring elements to electrically connect the power pins of an equipment module fixed to the base 10 the power pins of another equipment module attached to the base 10 'adjacent. This option will make it possible to build more complex automations that can integrate a greater number of equipment modules, while remaining on the basis of a modular system according to the invention. By default, the notches 19 of a base are hidden but they can easily be cut by a user when mounting the control system.

  As indicated above, the header (s) 10 of the control system can be fixed to a DIN rail type standardized profile 5 by means of a suitable fixing device 6 placed on the rear face 11 of the bases. Similarly, the rear face 11 may also include ears, or the like, to fix directly with screws the control system on a mounting plate.

  Another variant also makes it possible to directly fix one or more bases 10 on an electronic card or a printed circuit using such ears. Thus the control system can be directly mounted in compact automation equipment on printed circuit, dedicated for example to driving machines and mounted on the frame of the machine. The tracks of the printed circuit of this machine automation equipment do not then perform the electric power scheme since it is directly realized in the control system of the invention. Thanks to the technology of power prewiring elements, the gain in compactness is very high compared to a wiring power made on the printed circuit respecting the isolation distances. The control wiring can be carried out on the printed circuit of the machine automation equipment and it is then sufficient to provide a control connection between this printed circuit and the upstream connector (s) 21 of the control circuit 20 of the base 10.

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

Claims (18)

  A modular electrical control system for controlling / controlling one or more electrical loads, the system comprising: At least one base (10) having a front face provided with a plurality of locations, each base (10) comprising: A printed circuit board control unit (20) provided with control terminals (22) at each location and one or more upstream control connectors (21), - Several power pre-wired elements (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35), a or more electrical equipment modules (50a, 50b, 50c) removably attached to one or more locations of the base (10) and electrically connected to control terminals (22) of the control printed circuit (20) and to prewiring elements (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35) of the base.   2. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that an equipment module comprises a housing (50) from which input power and output pins (52) are output which are connected to pre-wiring elements. a base (10), when said module is fixed on said base, through the inlet and outlet ports (17) on the front face of said base.   3. Control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the control circuit (20) of a base (10) is disposed between the front face and the pre-wiring elements of said base and that the power pins ( 52) of at least one equipment module (50) fixed on the base (10) through the control circuit (20) of said base.   4. Control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (50) of an equipment module comprises inter-pole separation ribs (55) arranged on either side of the power pins (52). of said module, said ribs being inserted in corresponding grooves (18) disposed on each location of the front face of a base (10), when said module is fixed on said base. 10 15   5. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the prewiring elements (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 35) of a base (10) are removably inserted by a rear face (11) of said base.   6. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the prewiring elements of a base (10) comprise at least one upstream prewiring element (35) and one or more prewiring elements diagrams (30a, 30b, 30c). , 30d).   7. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the front face of a base (10) has several locations of equal size.   8. Control system according to claim 7, characterized in that the locations of the front face of a base (10) are arranged in two rows placed one above the other and each having several locations.   9. Control system according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing of each equipment module (50a, 50b, 50c) has a width equal to one or two times the width of a location and a height equal to one. or twice the height of a location.   10. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control system comprises a plurality of bases (10,10 ') juxtaposed and electrically interconnected by pre-wiring power elements.   11. Control system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an equipment module comprises a housing (50) having a control terminal (51) which is connected to a control terminal (22) of a printed circuit board. controlling (20) a base (10), when said module is fixed on said base, so that control information is exchanged between the equipment module and the control circuit board (20).   Control system according to Claim 11, characterized in that the control printed circuit (20) supplies, via the control terminals (22, 51), a control power supply to the switchgear modules mounted on the base. (10).   13. Control system according to claim 11, characterized in that the control circuit (20) comprises at least one interface for communicating the gear modules attached to the base on a communication bus connected to the control circuit ( 20) by an upstream control connector (21).   14. Control system according to claim 11, characterized in that the control circuit (20) comprises a processing unit for performing logical functions between control information of the switchgear modules.   15. Control system according to claim 11, characterized in that the control system is mechanically fixed to a printed circuit of automation equipment by means of fixing the base (10), and is electrically connected to said printed circuit by an upstream control connector (21) of the control circuit (20).   16. Module of electrical equipment, characterized in that it comprises a housing (50) from which input and output power pins (52) are output, which are connected to pre-wiring elements of a base ( 10) of an electrical control system according to one of the preceding claims, when said module is fixed on said base.   17. Apparatus module according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing (50) of an equipment module comprises inter-pole separation ribs (55) arranged between the power pins (52) of adjacent poles of said module, the ribs being inserted into grooves (18) corresponding disposed on each location of the front face of a base (10), when said module is fixed on said base.   18. Apparatus module according to claim 16, characterized in that the housing (50) of an equipment module comprises a control terminal (51) which is connected to a control terminal (22) of a printed circuit board. control (20) of a base (10), when said module is fixed on said base, so that control information is exchanged between the equipment module and the control circuit board (20).