JP4074121B2 - Solenoid valve manifold - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solenoid valve manifold in which a plurality of solenoid valves are connected in series.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
Generally, in this type of solenoid valve manifold, power is collectively supplied to each solenoid valve by connecting a connector of a connection cable to a multipolar connector. By the way, once the solenoid valve manifold is installed, if the installation location or installation posture is changed, it is difficult to connect the connector of the connection cable if the connection direction of the multipolar connector is only one of upward or sideways. There is a case.
[0003]
Therefore, a conventional solenoid valve manifold that solves such problems is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-182855. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the multipolar connector 62 provided in the electromagnetic valve manifold 61 is rotatably supported by the wiring saving block 63. With such a configuration, the orientation of the multipolar connector 62 can be changed according to the installation location, installation posture, and the like of the solenoid valve manifold 61.
[0004]
However, as shown in FIG. 8, since the multipolar connector 62 is rotated at a fixed position so that the connection direction can be changed, internal interference is caused in the region where the multipolar connector 62 in the wiring-saving block 63 rotates. It is necessary to avoid this, and it is necessary to secure a rotating area around the multipolar connector 62 to some extent. For this reason, the wiring-saving block 63 is increased in size, and as a result, the entire solenoid valve manifold 61 is increased in size.
[0005]
In addition to the solenoid valve manifold 61 described above, a solenoid valve manifold 71 that can change the connection direction of the multipolar connector 70 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-133240. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, in this type of solenoid valve manifold 71, it is possible to remove the multipolar connector 70 from the manifold body and change the connection direction. The solenoid valve manifold 71 does not increase in size as the solenoid valve manifold 61 shown in FIG. 7 described above. However, in order to change the connection direction of the multipolar connector 70, it is necessary to remove it, which causes a problem that workability is deteriorated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid valve manifold that can be miniaturized and can change the connection direction of a multipolar connector with a simple operation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(Invention of Claim 1)
In the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of solenoid valves are connected in series, and a wiring-saving block is provided adjacent to the solenoid valves arranged at the end of the solenoid valves, and the solenoid valves are provided in the wiring-saving block. In a solenoid valve manifold that is provided with a multi-pole connector that is electrically connected, and the multi-pole connector can be selectively changed to one of an upward direction and a horizontal direction, with the multi-pole connector facing sideways. The multi-pole connector can be slid outward from the horizontal holding position that is held, and the multi-pole connector is placed below the position where it slides outward and the multi -pole connector is held upward. is the the slidable and upward holding position the multipolar connector, connection direction is changed the multipolar connector is rotated at a position shifted from the lateral retaining position and the upward retaining position The gist of the door.
[0008]
According to this configuration, when the multipolar connector is in the horizontal holding position, the multipolar connector is changed upward by rotating the multipolar connector at a position where the multipolar connector is slid outward. On the other hand, when the multipolar connector is in the upward holding position, the multipolar connector is changed to the horizontal direction by rotating the multipolar connector at a position where the multipolar connector is slid upward. As described above, when the multipolar connector is changed to each direction, the multipolar connector is rotated at the position moved from the holding position to the outside of the reduced wiring block. There is no need to provide it. Therefore, the wiring-saving block can be reduced in size, and as a result, the entire solenoid valve manifold can be reduced in size. In addition, since it is not necessary to remove the multipolar connector from the reduced wiring block, the connection direction of the multipolar connector can be changed with a simple operation.
[0009]
(Invention of Claim 2)
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the solenoid valve manifold according to the first aspect, the multipolar connector is accommodated in a housing, and the housing is attached to the wiring-saving block via a block cover. An L-shaped guide groove extending outward from the lateral holding position and extending upward from the upward holding position is formed, and the support shafts projecting from both ends of the housing extend along the guide groove. The gist is that they are mobilized.
[0010]
According to this configuration, the multipolar connector slides when the support shaft is displaced along the guide groove while being displaced. Therefore, the multipolar connector can be easily arranged at the horizontal holding position and the upward holding position.
[0011]
(Invention of Claim 3)
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the solenoid valve manifold according to the second aspect of the present invention, first end portions that can be bent toward the central portion side are provided at both end portions of the housing, and the first bend portion is provided. When the multi-pole connector is disposed in the horizontal holding position, the first engagement protrusion is provided on one of the block and the block cover, and the first engagement hole is provided on the other. The gist is that the stop protrusion is engaged with the first locking hole.
[0012]
According to this configuration, when the multipolar connector is slid to the horizontal holding position, the first locking hole and the first locking protrusion are engaged while the first bending portion is bent toward the center of the housing. Thus, the multipolar connector is held in the horizontal holding position. Therefore, the multipolar connector can be held in the horizontal holding position by a simple operation.
[0013]
(Invention of Claim 4)
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the solenoid valve manifold according to the second or third aspect, a second bending portion that can be bent toward the central portion is provided at both ends of the housing. When the second locking protrusion is provided on one of the two bent portions and the block cover and the second locking hole is provided on the other, and the multipolar connector is disposed in the upward holding position, The gist is that the two locking projections are engaged with the second locking holes.
[0014]
According to this configuration, when the multipolar connector is slid to the upward holding position, the second locking hole and the second locking projection are engaged while the second bending portion is bent toward the center of the housing. Thus, the multipolar connector is held in the upward holding position. Therefore, the multipolar connector can be held in the upward holding position by a simple operation.
[0015]
(Invention of Claim 5)
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the solenoid valve manifold according to the fourth aspect, the first bent portion and the second bent portion are made of a single member and are arranged in the bent portion. The gist is that either one of the two locking projections or both the locking holes is made of a single member.
[0016]
With this configuration, since the number of parts can be reduced, it is possible to simplify the structure for holding the multipolar connector at the horizontal holding position or the upward holding position.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the solenoid valve manifold 10 includes an end block 12, an air supply / exhaust block 13, a plurality of valve blocks 14, and a wiring saving block 15 disposed on a DIN rail 11. Each block 12-15 is provided in a row along the longitudinal direction of the DIN rail 11, and is held by a fixing bracket 16 so that they are not separated from each other.
[0020]
One fluid pressure device is connected to each valve block 14, and supply and exhaust of pressure fluid to and from each fluid pressure device are performed via output ports 17 and 18 provided on the side surface of each valve block 14. The Each of the valve blocks 14 is alternately switched between one of the two output ports 17 and 18 for supplying air and the other for discharging according to electrical operation, so that the fluid pressure device operates. .
[0021]
Next, the main part of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, most of the reduced wiring block 15 is cut out, and a multipolar connector 23 housed in a connector mounting housing 22 is provided in the cutout portion 15 a. The multipolar connector 23 is electrically connected to each valve block 14 via a lead wire (not shown) provided on the back side thereof. Then, a connector of a connection cable (not shown) extending from the power source is connected to the multipolar connector 23, whereby collective power feeding to each valve block 14 is performed.
[0022]
The reduced wiring block 15 is provided with a block cover 24 that covers a part of the side opening, and two housing support pieces 25 formed at both ends of the block cover 24 are connected to the connector mounting housing 22. They are arranged in the gaps between the wiring blocks 15. Each housing support piece 25 is formed with an L-shaped guide groove 26, and the guide groove 26 extends along the horizontal direction of the wiring-saving block 15 and along the vertical direction. It consists of parts. In this guide groove 26, a support shaft 27 protruding from both side surfaces of the connector mounting housing 22 is engaged. Then, the connector mounting housing 22 rotates around the support shaft 27, so that the multipolar connector 23 can be selectively changed to any one of upward and lateral directions.
[0023]
When the support shaft 27 is moved along the guide groove 26, the connector mounting housing 22 can slide in the lateral direction of the solenoid valve manifold 10 and can slide in the longitudinal direction of the solenoid valve manifold 10. The lateral direction of the solenoid valve manifold 10 corresponds to the connecting direction of the solenoid valve manifolds 10 described in the claims. Further, the longitudinal direction of the solenoid valve manifold 10 corresponds to a vertical direction orthogonal to the connecting direction of the solenoid valves 19 described in the claims.
[0024]
At both ends of the connector mounting housing 22, cantilevered bent portions 30 that can be bent by their own elastic force are formed on the center side. The distal end portion of the bending portion 30 protrudes from the end surface of the connector mounting housing 22, and the protruding portion serves as the operation portion 32. A locking projection 31 is formed in the vicinity of the central portion of the bending portion 30, and the locking projection 31 is one of the first locking hole 33 and the second locking hole 34 formed in each housing support piece 25. Is selectively engaged.
[0025]
That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the locking projection 31 is engaged with the first locking hole 33, the multipolar connector 23 is held in the horizontal holding position P1. When the multipolar connector 23 is disposed at the horizontal holding position P <b> 1, the support shaft 27 of the connector mounting housing 22 is disposed at one end of the guide groove 26. Accordingly, when the multipolar connector 23 is disposed at the horizontal holding position P1, the engagement between the locking projection 31 and the first locking hole 33 is released, so that the multipolar connector 23 is connected to the solenoid valve manifold. 10 is allowed to slide outward.
[0026]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4E, the multi-pole connector 23 is held in the upward holding position P2 by engaging the locking protrusion 31 with the second locking hole 34. When the multipolar connector 23 is disposed at the upward holding position P <b> 2, the support shaft 27 of the connector mounting housing 22 is disposed at the other end of the guide groove 26. Accordingly, when the multipolar connector 23 is disposed at the upward holding position P2, the engagement between the locking protrusion 31 and the second locking hole 34 is released, so that the multipolar connector 23 is connected to the solenoid valve manifold. 10 is allowed to slide upwards.
[0027]
In addition, the 1st latching protrusion and the 2nd latching protrusion which are equivalent to a claim are made common, and are comprised from the latching protrusion 31 which consists of one member. Moreover, the 1st bending part and the 2nd bending part which are equivalent to a claim are made common, and are comprised from the bending part 30 which consists of one member said by this embodiment.
[0028]
In the solenoid valve manifold 10 configured as described above, the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23 may need to be changed in accordance with a change in the installation location or the installation posture. In that case, the orientation of the multipolar connector 23 can be changed by the following method. First, the case where the multipolar connector 23 is changed from the horizontal direction to the upward direction will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E, in a state where the connector mounting housing 22 is disposed at the lateral holding position P1, the two operation portions 32 provided at the distal end portion of the bending portion 30 are brought close to each other, The engagement between the locking projection 31 and the first locking hole 33 is released. Next, the connector mounting housing 22 is slid to the outside of the solenoid valve manifold 10, and the connector mounting housing 22 is rotated so that the multipolar connector 23 faces upward at the location where it hits the corner portion of the guide groove 26. Thereafter, the connector mounting housing 22 is pushed into the wiring saving block 15.
[0029]
Then, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the locking protrusion 31 hits the upper edge of the housing support piece 25 in the block cover 24, and the bending portion 30 is bent toward the center side of the connector mounting housing 22. Mu At this time, since the inclined surface 31a is formed on a part of the locking protrusion 31, the bending portion 30 can be bent smoothly. When the connector mounting housing 22 is further pushed into the wiring-saving block 15, the locking projection 31 is engaged with the second locking hole 34, and the multipolar connector 23 is held at the upward holding position P2.
[0030]
Next, a case where the multipolar connector 23 is changed from upward to lateral will be described. In this case, the locking protrusion 31 and the second locking hole 34 are released, and the multipolar connector 23 is turned sideways in the reverse order to the case of changing from sideways to upward. Then, the connector mounting housing 22 is slid inward of the solenoid valve manifold 10 and pushed into the wiring saving block 15.
[0031]
Then, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the locking projection 31 hits the side edge of the housing support piece 25 in the block cover 24, and the flexure 30 is on the center side of the connector mounting housing 22. Bend. When the connector mounting housing 22 is further pushed into the wiring-saving block 15, the locking projection 31 is engaged with the first locking hole 33, and the multipolar connector 23 is held in the lateral holding position P1.
[0032]
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The connector mounting housing 22 is slid from the horizontal holding position P1 or the upward holding position P2, and the connector mounting housing 22 is rotated at positions shifted from the respective positions P1 and P2, thereby changing the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23. is doing. For this reason, when the connector mounting housing 22 rotates, it does not interfere with the wiring-saving block 15 and the block cover 24, so that it is not necessary to secure a space in the wiring-saving block 15 for setting the rotation position to avoid this interference. As a result, the reduced wiring block 15 can be reduced in size, and the entire solenoid valve manifold 10 can be reduced in size. Moreover, since the connector mounting housing 22 is not attached to or detached from the wiring-saving block 15 in order to change the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23, the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23 can be changed with a simple operation. .
[0033]
(2) The connector mounting housing 22 is slid while being guided by the guide groove 26. Therefore, the engagement between the locking projection 31 and the first locking hole 33 or the second locking hole 34 can be easily performed.
[0034]
(3) The connector mounting housing 22 is rotated to change the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23 in a state where the support shaft 27 is attached to the right-angled corner portion of the guide groove 26. Therefore, the connector mounting housing 22 can be easily rotated, and the connection direction of the multipolar connector 23 can be changed more easily.
[0035]
(4) Locking protrusions 31 are provided on the bent portions 30 formed at both ends of the connector mounting housing 22. When the multipolar connector 23 is held at the horizontal holding position P1 or the upward holding position P2, the locking projection 31 and the first locking hole 33 can be formed by simply pushing the connector mounting housing 22 into the wiring-saving block 15. Can be engaged. Therefore, the multipolar connector 23 can be held at the horizontal holding position P1 or the upward holding position P2 by a simple operation.
[0036]
(5) Unlike the 1st locking hole 33 and the 2nd locking hole 34, two bending parts 30 and the locking protrusions 31 are provided in order to hold the multipolar connector 23 at the respective positions P1 and P2. It does not have to be. Therefore, the structure of the connector mounting housing 22 can be simplified.
[0037]
(Another embodiment)
The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows.
In the embodiment, the locking protrusion 31 is provided in the bending portion 30, and the first locking hole 33 and the second locking hole 34 are provided in the housing support piece 25. Instead of this configuration, the positional relationship in which the locking protrusion 31 and the locking holes 33 and 34 are provided may be reversed. That is, two locking protrusions may be provided on the inner surface of the housing support piece 25, and one locking hole may be provided in the flexure 30. With this configuration, when the locking hole provided in the bending portion 30 is engaged with one of the locking protrusions, the multipolar connector 23 is held in the horizontal holding position P1. Further, when the locking hole provided in the bending portion 30 is engaged with the other locking projection, the multipolar connector 23 is held at the upward holding position P2.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, the shape of the guide groove 26 is L-shaped, but it may be changed to any shape.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention described in each claim of the present application, it is possible to reduce the size and change the connection direction of the multipolar connector with a simple operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solenoid valve manifold with a multipolar connector turned sideways.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a solenoid valve manifold with a multipolar connector facing upward.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a solenoid valve manifold.
FIGS. 4A to 4E are explanatory views showing a process of changing the connection direction of the multipolar connector.
FIGS. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views showing a process of sliding a wiring-saving block to an upward holding position.
FIGS. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views showing a process of sliding a wiring-saving block to a horizontal holding position.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a solenoid valve manifold in the prior art.
FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector mounting housing.
9 is a perspective view of a solenoid valve manifold showing a prior art different from those shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Solenoid valve manifold, 19 ... Solenoid valve, 15 ... Wire-saving block, 22 ... Connector mounting housing (housing), 23 ... Multipolar connector, 24 ... Block cover, 26 ... Guide groove, 30 ... Deflection part (1st bending) Part, second bending part), 31 ... (first locking protrusion, second locking protrusion), 33 ... first locking hole, 34 ... second locking hole, P1 ... sideways holding position, P2 ... Upward holding position.

Claims (5)

A multipolar connector in which a plurality of solenoid valves are connected in series, and a reduced wiring block is provided adjacent to the solenoid valve disposed at the end of the solenoid valves, and the solenoid valves are electrically connected to the reduced wiring block In this solenoid valve manifold, this multi-pole connector can be selectively changed to either the upward or lateral orientation.
The multipolar connector can be slid outwardly from a lateral holding position where the multipolar connector is held sideways, and the multipolar connector is disposed below a position where the multipolar connector slides outward. The multipolar connector can be slid to an upward holding position where the multipolar connector is held upward, and the multipolar connector rotates at a position shifted from the lateral holding position and the upward holding position. A solenoid valve manifold characterized in that the connection direction is changed .   The multipolar connector is housed in a housing, and the housing is attached to the wiring-saving block via a block cover. The block cover extends outward from the lateral holding position and extends upward from the upward holding position. The electromagnetic guide according to claim 1, wherein a guide groove is formed, and a support shaft projecting from both ends of the housing is movably engaged with the guide groove along the guide groove. Valve manifold.   Both end portions of the housing are provided with a first bending portion that can be bent toward the central portion thereof, and either one of the first bending portion and the block cover is provided with a first locking projection. A first locking hole is provided on the other side, and the first locking protrusion is engaged with the first locking hole when the multipolar connector is disposed in the horizontal holding position. Item 3. The solenoid valve manifold according to Item 2.   A second bending portion that can be bent toward the central portion is provided at both ends of the housing, and a second locking protrusion is provided at one of the second bending portion and the block cover. A second locking hole is provided on the other side, and the second locking protrusion is engaged with the second locking hole when the multipolar connector is disposed at the upward holding position. Item 4. The solenoid valve manifold according to Item 2 or 3. The first bent portion and the second bent portion are made of a single member in common, and either one of the locking protrusions or the locking holes arranged in the bending portion is also shared. 5. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 4, wherein the solenoid valve manifold is composed of a single member .

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