JP2002231385A - Connecting structure for units - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure of connecting adjacent units via a detachable connector, preventing wrong connection of the unit having different specifications. SOLUTION: The specifications of connector joints 31 formed in the units 21 are set to be differentiated by the units 1 having different specifications. For example, the connectors 21 are provided with diversionary pins 26 facing the adjacent units 1, respectively, and the connector connections 31 of the units 1 are provided with pin insertion holes 35, in which the diversionary pins 26 can be inserted. The positions of the pin insertion holes 35, in which the diversionary pins 26 can be inserted are differentiated in the units 1, having different specifications.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection structure suitable for connection between power supply units and connection between a PLC and an expansion unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In current switching power supplies and the like,
It is widely used in various machinery and equipment in factories, and the types are various. Even if the output voltage is the same, the power capacity (output W)
However, a plurality of power supply series different from each other are currently being used. In the current situation of the use of such power supplies, for manufacturers, for example, power supply series with the same output voltage are developed and manufactured individually with different capacities, and each series is developed individually with corresponding capacity. They manufacture and sell them to users.

However, if the capacities are different even in the same series, it is necessary to newly develop and design the circuit board configuration, the arrangement of the transformers, and the like corresponding to the respective capacities. Forced to affect the selling price of the power supply.

[0004] In addition, for users who purchase and use power supplies of these series, even if they are the same series, it is necessary to purchase various power supplies in the series individually according to various uses such as load to be used. It is pointed out that there are problems such as an increase in the cost and purchase cost.

[0005]

Accordingly, the applicant of the present application has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-304602, entitled "Power Supply Module and Power Supply Unit Using the Same" (October 4, 2000).
If the power supply unit of a certain capacity is modularized in the same series and this modularized power supply unit can be increased or decreased by any number to obtain a power supply of any capacity, Requires only the development cost of a power supply unit having a certain capacity, and for the user, one or more power supply units having that capacity may be used depending on the application.
He proposed that it could be purchased and used at low cost.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a power supply device based on such a proposal.
6 and FIG. In this power supply device, one or a plurality of modularized power supply units 61 are mounted and supported in parallel on a DIN rail 62, and an AC input terminal 63, a DC output terminal 64, A power supply circuit 65 for converting an AC input into a DC output, a bus line L (i) on the AC input side, a bus line L (o) on the DC output side, and the like are provided. A plurality of power supply units 61 are connected in parallel, and the power supply unit 61 at the end is a master power supply unit connected to an AC power supply. i) via each power supply unit 61
And a DC output is connected in parallel via a bus line L (o) on the DC output side.

According to the power supply apparatus modularized in this way, the power supply capacity can be arbitrarily expanded by adding a plurality of power supply units 61, whereby power supplies having the same output voltage and different power supply capacities can be provided. Need not be developed separately.

However, in the configuration in which a plurality of power supply units 61 having such bus lines are connected, if the power supply units 61 having different output voltages are erroneously connected, the DC output side bus line L ( o), a high output voltage goes around to a low output voltage circuit, a high voltage is applied to the load, and a high voltage is also applied to the low voltage side power supply circuit 65 itself, which may cause a burnout accident or the like. .

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and has as its main object to prevent erroneous connection between units having different specifications.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the unit connection structure of the present invention is a unit connection structure in which adjacent units are connected via a detachable connector, and a connector connection portion formed in the unit is provided for each unit having different specifications. Each is different.

According to the present invention, the connectors having the same specifications have the same connector connection portions, and the connectors having the same specifications can be connected to the units having the same specifications. Cannot be connected, and only units of the same specification can be connected via a predetermined connector. Further, it becomes impossible to connect a connector corresponding to another specification to a unit having a certain specification. Therefore, erroneous connection of units having different specifications can be avoided.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes a check pin opposed to each of the adjacent units, and a connector connecting portion of each unit has a check pin of the check pin for each unit having different specifications. Pin insertion holes into which insertion is possible are provided at different positions.

According to the present invention, a pin insertion hole is formed at the same position in the connector connecting portion of the unit having the same specification, and when the connector is connected to the connector connecting portion, the check pin is aligned with the pin inserting hole. If not, it is easy to recognize that the unit has different specifications. Also,
The specification setting of the connector connecting portion in the unit is as simple as setting the position of the pin insertion hole.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of pin insertion holes are formed in the connector connecting portion of each unit, and one of these pin insertion holes is closed with a closing member to insert a restraining pin. The position of the pin insertion hole that can be used is selectable.

According to the present invention, the connector case is shared by a plurality of types of units, and the positions of the pin insertion holes into which the check pins can be inserted are made different for each of the specifications, thereby connecting the connector. The units can be different for each unit specification.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the restraining pin is provided on the connector main body so as to be movable.

According to the present invention, by selecting the position of the check pin, the same type of connector can be properly used for units having different specifications.

In still another embodiment of the present invention,
The connector connecting portion is formed so as to be recessed on the opposite side surface of the adjacent unit.

According to the present invention, the connector is held while being sandwiched between the opposing side surfaces of the adjacent units, and the connector is not accidentally disconnected.
In addition, since the connector is immersed and supported in the recessed connector connecting portion, adjacent units can be jointly compactly arranged in parallel.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connector includes a display portion that is exposed to the outside of the unit from between the units connected and protruding from the connector main body.

According to the present invention, the connector connecting portion between the adjacent units is not visible, but it is possible to easily visually recognize whether or not a predetermined connector exists from the exposed display portion. it can.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an expandable power supply unit will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power supply unit viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power supply unit viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 3 is a view of the disassembled power supply unit 1 viewed from the bottom side. The respective perspective views are shown.

Each power supply unit 1 has the same specifications. The casing 2 has a main case 2a located on the left side when viewed from the front, a side cover case 2b located on the right side, and a Front case 2c
Are connected to each other to form a box having a small width on the left and right, a deep box on the top and bottom, and a depth on the front and back.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vertically wide mounting groove 5 to be engaged with the DIN rail 4 is formed on the rear surface of the casing 2 in a horizontal direction.
A detachable mounting piece 6 is mounted on the lower edge so as to be vertically slidable. A hook 7 for mechanically connecting adjacent power supply units 1 and an engagement hole 8 into which the hook 7 is inserted are provided above and below the left and right side surfaces of the casing 2, and the power supply unit adjacent to the engagement hole 8 is provided. One hook 7
When the lock knob 9 mounted on the upper surface of the casing is slid in a state where the hook 7 is inserted, the hook 7 is prevented from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 4, the circuit portion 3 includes a large main board 11 facing left and right, and a small front board 12 orthogonally connected to a portion closer to the front side. Main electronic components constituting a power supply circuit for converting an AC input into a DC output are mounted on the main substrate 11, and on the front substrate 12, in addition to electronic components such as a monitor lamp and an output voltage adjusting volume, The input socket 13, the output socket 14, and both substrates 11,
Connection fittings 15 and the like for electrically connecting the 12 circuits are mounted, and the electric circuit structure shown in FIG.

Here, the connection fitting 15 is formed by stamping and pressing a conductive metal plate having a spring property. The connection fitting 15 is connected to the front board 12 by connecting pins 15a inserted into the main board 11 and connected by soldering. It has a connecting pin 15b to be inserted and soldered and connected, and has a pair of elastic contact pieces 15c and 15d extending in the left-right direction.

The upper two connecting members 15 of the connecting member group 15 are connected to the AC input bus line L (i) connected to the AC input terminal 16 of the input side socket 13.
And each elastic contact piece 15c,
Reference numeral 15d functions as a connector terminal for connecting the AC input bus lines L (i) of the adjacent power supply units 1.

The lower four fittings 15 of the group of connecting fittings 15 are connected to a pair of DC output side bus lines L (o) connected to the DC output terminal 17 of the output side socket 14.
And a ground bus line L (g) connected to the ground terminal 18 of the input socket 13 and a control signal line L (c) connected to a power supply circuit 19 for converting AC to DC. Each elastic contact piece 15c, 15d
Are the bus lines L (o), L of the adjacent power supply unit 1.
Functions as a connector terminal that connects (g) and (c).

The power supply unit 1 constructed as described above can be used as a single unit. However, one power supply unit can be used as a master power supply unit, and an arbitrary number of power supply units 1 can be added in parallel to the power supply unit 1 to provide a power supply unit having a desired power supply capacity. The device can be configured.

FIG. 6 shows two power supply units 1 arranged in a connected posture, and FIG.
As a master power supply unit connected to an AC power supply, three power supply units 1 for expansion are added in parallel to the power supply unit, and a power supply device capable of performing a large number of outputs at the same voltage is constructed and assembled on a DIN rail 4. FIG. 8 shows the circuit connection structure. FIG. 10 is a front view in which a part of the power supply device added in parallel is longitudinally cut, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views taken along lines aa and bb in FIG. 10, respectively. Have been.

In configuring the above power supply device, a connector 21 shown in FIG. 9 is used for electrical connection between the power supply units 1. The connector 21 is provided with elastic contact pieces 15c, 1 in the upper two connection fittings 15.
The connection terminal 22 inserted into and contacted with 5d and the connection terminal 23 inserted and contacted with the elastic contact pieces 15c and 15d of the four connection fittings 15 on the lower side are formed of a resin-shaped body 24 having a vertically long shape. In addition to projecting from the left and right side surfaces, protective projecting pieces 25 project from above and below the connection terminal 22, and furthermore, a restraining pin 26 is projected from an upper and lower middle portion between the left and right side surfaces of the body 24. Further, thin leg portions 27 project leftward and rightward from the upper and lower middle portions of the front surface of the body 24, and a flat display portion 28 is formed at the front end thereof toward the front.

On the other hand, on the left and right sides of each power supply unit 1,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the like, a connector connecting portion 31 having a depth at which the connector 21 is immersed is formed in a recess, and the connection terminals 22 and 23 group are formed at the bottom of the connector connecting portion 31. Terminal insertion holes 32, 33 for inserting
A guide hole 34 for inserting the group of protection projections 25 and a pin insertion hole 35 for inserting the restraining pin 26 are formed.
The elastic contact pieces 15c and 15d of the connection fitting 15 are provided in the inner side of the terminal insertion holes 32 and 33, and are provided. , 23 correspond to the elastic contact piece 1
5c and 15d are inserted and contacted.

The main board 1 shown in FIG. 4 is located behind the left connector connecting portion 31 in each power supply unit 1.
1 is located, and the left elastic contact piece 15 c is connected to the connector connecting portion 31 through an opening 36 formed in the main board 11.
Terminal insertion holes 32, 33.

Here, the restraining pin 26 allows connection only between the power supply units 1 having the same output voltage and prevents restraint of connection of the power supply units 1 having different output voltages. By selecting and moving the position of, a plurality of types of specifications can be supported.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the restraining pin 26 projects from a movable piece 42 slidably mounted in a guide groove 41 formed in the body 24 so as to be vertically slidable.
By selectively engaging the small protrusion 43 provided on the movable piece 42 with any of the positioning recesses 44 formed at the three upper and lower portions of the guide groove 41, the restraining pin 26 can be selectively held at one of the three upper and lower portions. It is possible.

On the other hand, a pin insertion hole 35 formed in each connector connecting portion 31 of each power supply unit 1 is
Three pin insertion holes 45 are formed on the main board 11 so as to face the pin insertion holes 35 of the connector connector 31 on the left side, respectively.

Then, on the left and right of the front substrate 12,
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the block-shaped closing member 46 is
5 and the left connector connecting portion 31
By closing two of the three pin insertion holes 35 and opening only one of the pin insertion holes 45 and 35 at the same height position as the check pin 26, a connector of a kind of specification can be obtained. It is configured so that only the connector 21 can be connected to the connector connecting portion 31. In the case of the illustrated example, corresponding to the restraining pin 26 set at the lowest position,
Only the lowermost pin insertion holes 45 and 35 are open.

As described above, the check pin 2 is connected to the connector 21.
6 and by setting pin insertion holes 45 and 35 corresponding to the positions of the check pins 26 on the power supply unit side, only the power supply unit 1 of the same specification (same output voltage) can be added. It is.

The left and right sides of each power supply unit 1
As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, a shallow groove 47 communicating with each connector connecting portion 31 is formed, and through this shallow groove 47, the leg portion 27 of the connector 21 moves forward from between the power supply units 1 adjacent on the left and right. 7, the display unit 28 is exposed to the front as shown in FIG. 7, whereby whether the connector 21 is properly mounted, that is, whether the connector 21 is forgotten, or In addition, it is possible to easily visually check whether or not a connector having the correct specification is mounted.

An input terminal block 49 screwed to the input socket 13 is provided on the upper front surface of the leftmost power supply unit 1 as the master power supply unit among the plurality of power supply units 1 connected as described above. Deployed,
An output socket 14 is provided at the lower front of each power supply unit 1.
Is provided with an output terminal block 50 screwed to the AC power supply and a load device.

The present invention can be implemented in the following modes.

(1) As shown in FIG. 13, a communication unit 51 is connected to the power supply unit 1 on the right end, and a control signal line L (c) of the power supply unit 1 is connected to a microcomputer 52 built in the communication unit 51. By connecting, the power supply of each power supply unit 1 can be controlled according to the contents of communication with the outside.

(2) As shown in FIG.
And connector 21A from which connection terminal 23 for output is removed
As shown in FIG. 15, power supply units 1A having different specifications (output voltages) can be connected in such a manner that only the AC input is shared. The connector 21
What is necessary is just to attach the display for distinguishing from the connector 21 mentioned above to the display part 28 of A.

(3) As the connector 21, a plurality of types having specifications in which the check pins 26 are fixed at predetermined positions are prepared in advance, and a connector 21 having a specification corresponding to the power supply unit 1 can be selected and used. .

(4) One pin insertion hole 45 in the main board 11
It is also possible to form and implement only the output specifications.

(5) A plurality of punching dies for pin insertion holes are formed in the connector connecting portion 31, and a single pin insertion hole 35 is punched and formed at a predetermined position according to the specifications of the power supply unit 1. You can also.

[0049]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is impossible to connect units having different specifications, and a trouble occurs in a built-in circuit or a circuit connected to an output terminal. Is avoided beforehand.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single power supply unit viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power supply unit viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a circuit portion.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of a power supply unit alone.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing two power supply units and a connector arranged in a connection posture.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power supply device in which four power supply units are connected in parallel and mounted on a DIN rail.

FIG. 8 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of a power supply device in which four power supply units are connected in parallel;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view and a front view of a connector used for connecting a power supply unit.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a part of a power supply device in which power supply units are connected in parallel;

11 is a sectional view taken along line aa in FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line bb in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of a power supply device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a connector according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of a power supply device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a front view of an additional power supply device of a comparative example.

FIG. 17 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of an additional power supply device of a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unit (power supply unit) 21 Connector 26 Check pin 28 Display part 31 Connector connection part 35 Pin insertion hole 46 Closure member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 4E353 AA05 AA17 AA19 AA21 BB02 BB06 CC01 CC13 CC32 CC33 DD05 DD11 DD15 DR03 DR19 DR22 DR34 DR44 DR57 GG01 GG12 GG21 4E360 AB02 AB12 AB18 AB20 AB23 AB56 ED03 ED13 GA46 GA49 GB93 5E021 FA05 FB13 FB21 FC38 KA02 KA06

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A unit connection structure for connecting adjacent units via a detachable connector, wherein connector connection portions formed on the units are different for units having different specifications. Unit connection structure. 2. The unit connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector includes a check pin opposed to each of the adjacent units, and a connector connection portion of each of the units includes, for each of units having different specifications, A connection structure of units in which pin insertion holes into which the check pins can be inserted are provided at different positions. 3. The unit connection structure according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of pin insertion holes are formed in the connector connection portion of each unit, and one of the pin insertion holes is closed by a closing member. Unit connection structure that allows selection of the position of the pin insertion hole where the check pin can be inserted. 4. The unit connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the check pin is movably provided on the connector body. 5. The unit connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector connection portion is formed by recessing the opposing side surface of an adjacent unit. 6. The unit connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the connector includes a display portion that is exposed outside the unit from between the connected units protruding from the connector main body.