DE102008052616B4 - Electrical arrangement for contacting a plurality of electrical / fluid engineering assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical arrangement for contacting a plurality of electrical and / or fluid-technical subassemblies, which are accommodated in an associated housing (1a, 1b), which are mechanically and electrically connected to one another by juxtaposition, with connecting means having a plurality of electrical leads for the electrical interlinking of adjacent housings (1a, 1b) are provided, characterized in that the connecting means in each case one with respect to the Aneinanderreihungsachse (A) at an acute angle of inclination (α) obliquely arranged carrier board (2, 2a, 2b), on which the electrical lines in the form of parallel and spaced from each other extending conductor tracks (3) on both sides (4, 5) are applied such that due to juxtaposition of two housings (2a, 2b) the Leiterbahnendbereiche (8) on a lower side (5) of a first carrier board (2a) come into contact with corresponding Leiterbahnendbereichen (6) at an upper Side (4) of a second carrier board (2b).

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical arrangement for contacting a plurality of electrical and / or fluidic assemblies, which are housed in an associated housing, which are mechanically and electrically connected by juxtaposition, wherein a plurality of electrical lines having electrical connection means for concatenating adjacent housing are provided.

The field of application of the present invention extends to assemblies containing electrical drive means, primarily automation technology, which are combined to form a structural unit by stringing together preferably similar housings. In particular, the solution according to the invention can be applied to a pneumatic valve unit, which consists of a plurality of juxtaposed pneumatic valves, which are supplied or controlled via a central supply pressure supply and a central electrical connection. In the context of such a valve unit, it is necessary to loop through the electrical control signals from valve to valve and to forward by line branches to the controlled solenoids of the individual valves on. For this purpose, valve unit internally a data bus communication or - here interesting - a parallel wiring can be realized starting from a bus box for converting control signals from serial bus signals into parallel control signals for the individual valves.

The electrical contacting of several, identical or similar electrical, fluidic, electromechanical or electronic assemblies, which are lined up to a certain maximum number, usually takes place via relatively complicated electrical connection means, which usually include cables with plugs, printed circuit boards, contact surface and the like. These components must be designed so that from this electrical input contacts for electrical signals as well as matching electrical output contacts are formed, wherein a portion of the electrical signals is routed to an electrical module branching, which is housed in the same housing as the electrical connection means. On the other hand, another part of the electrical signals is forwarded by the electrical connection means to the next following module. This is referred to in the context of the present invention as an electrical interlinking.

From the general state of the art solutions are known for electrically concatenating a plurality of modules arranged in series, which are designed according to the plug-socket principle. Along the Aneinanderreihungsachse of the individual housing adjacent electrical connection means, especially printed circuit boards, put together. This assumes that each circuit board is formed on one side as a socket and on the other side has a corresponding connector. While in the simplest case, the plug can be formed from the end regions of the conductor tracks on the edge of the printed circuit board serving for the connection, it is necessary to solder a socket element on the other side of the printed circuit board in order to form a socket corresponding thereto.

From the DE 198 01 234 A1 goes out a pneumatic valve unit, which consists of several over opposite pads to a package strung together electrically controllable valves. Each valve has, for the pressure medium supply of at least one working connection arranged on one end face, at least one pressure medium passage section (R, P, S) arranged substantially perpendicular to the connection face. Mutually corresponding pressure medium sections of adjacent valves are connected in a fluid-pressure-connected manner by the juxtaposition to a common pressure medium channel common to all valves. About each end of the first and last valve of the valve unit arranged end plates, the pressure-tight closure of the pressure medium channels and the connection thereof to an external pressure medium source.

In order to enable a simple assembly and thus in particular a simple exchange of valves located in the assembly of the valve unit and on the other hand to realize a compact design, it is proposed in this prior art that at the opposite terminal surfaces of the disc-like valves pressed together electrical contacts are provided, via which in the assembled state of the valve unit, the electrical connection for the valves can be produced. The adjacent to the plant electrical contacts are in this case formed as a spring-mounted metallic contact lugs.

Although it is thanks to this electrical contact, which depends on the above-explained plug / socket principle, the exchange of a valve from the composite of the valve unit by pulling out of this primarily, however, are on the part of the electrical contact means special conditions to make that by simple counter-position the contacts to each other the electrical connection is not interrupted as a result of corrosion. A measure for this could be to carry out the electrical contacts of such a noble material that contact wear is omitted. However, the material required for this seems quite high.

The DE 10 2005 015 200 A1 discloses another electrical arrangement for contacting valves of juxtaposed valves, in which the electrical connection is made by means of printed circuit boards having on opposite sides in each case a plug and socket element. The disadvantage here is that individual valves can not be removed from the composite of the valve unit, as in the prior art discussed above.

The DE 199 57 789 A1 shows another electrical contacting solution for two printed circuit boards, are formed in the electrical contact elements as a resilient sliding contacts, wherein U-shaped curved leaf springs are used. The electrical contacting takes place here by juxtaposition of the circuit boards, for which purpose a sufficient contacting pressure must be ensured.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical arrangement for contacting a plurality of electrical / fluid power assemblies, which ensures a simple electrical means secure electrical contact.

The object is achieved on the basis of an electrical arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with its characterizing features. The following dependent claims give advantageous developments of the invention.

The invention includes the technical teaching that the electrical connection means consist of with respect to the Aneinanderreihungsachse A at an acute angle α obliquely arranged carrier boards on which the electrical lines in the form of parallel and spaced apart running tracks are applied on both sides such that in Sequence of a juxtaposition of two housings the Leiterbahnendbereiche on an upper side of a first carrier plate come into contact with corresponding Leiterbahnendbereichen on the underside of a second carrier board.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention results in particular from the fact that the socket and plug functions are implemented here by the tracks themselves, which form a stable electrical connection with respect to adjacent housing by exerting pressure contact and acting along the Aneinanderreihungsachse Endsteckschiebekraft. This eliminates otherwise usual separate plug parts and socket parts completely, which are otherwise to attach to the electrical circuit board.

To improve the electrical contact is proposed according to a measure improving the invention, at least one of the printed conductor end regions of the printed circuit board form as a resilient sliding contacts. In this way, the contact force can be increased to come into contact corresponding Leiterbahnendbereiche. Such resilient sliding contacts can be made, for example, from individual bent sheet metal parts, which are fastened on the associated strip conductors, preferably by soldering.

A space-optimal solution results in accordance with a suggestion improving the above-described measure, characterized in that the resilient sliding contacts are executed bent back substantially U-shaped in the direction of the carrier board. Such curved sliding contacts are easy to manufacture and are characterized by a stable spring property.

The quality of the electrical contact of the invention strung together carrier boards is essentially determined by the inclination angle α between the Aneinanderreihungsachse A and the carrier board. A sufficient contact security lies in the range between 10 ° to 50 ° inclined position, preferably in the range between 20 ° to 40 °. Within these preferred ranges, a particularly favorable ratio between the required overlap region to be contacted with each other carrier plates, which should be as low as possible, and the safety of the electrical contact, which is achieved essentially by the application of juxtaposed contact pressure of opposing contacts.

To form the electrical input contacts and electrical output contacts on each side of the carrier board, the interconnects must extend over the top and bottom of the carrier board. An additional requirement that carries this requirement and yet saves additional material results in that the conductor tracks on the upper side of the carrier board are electrically connected to the conductor tracks on the lower side of the carrier board via the carrier plate material extending through the insulator carrier material. These pins can be connected, for example, by soldering to the respective tracks.

As another measure improving the invention, it is proposed to coat the carrier board with a liquid-repellent protective lacquer, with the exception of the conductor track end areas provided for the electrical connection. As a result, leakage currents between the parallel and spaced mutually extending conductor tracks of the carrier plate can be avoided even in unfavorable environmental conditions. As a result, the reliability increases.

Further, measures improving the invention will be described in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS. It shows:

1 a perspective view of two juxtaposed electrical assemblies with support plates for the electrical concatenation of the same,

2 a perspective view of an equipped with electrical connection means carrier board as a plan view,

3 3 a perspective view of a carrier board equipped with electrical connection means as a bottom view,

4 a side view of two adjacent carrier boards in the assembly starting position, and

5 a side view of two adjacent carrier boards in the final assembly position.

According to 1 are adjacent housing 1a and 1b for accommodating - not shown - electrical and fluid engineering assemblies connected by stringing together. For electrical connection is every case 1a and 1b a carrier board 2a respectively. 2 B associated, each with parallel spaced apart conductor tracks 3 is provided to an electrical interlinking of the adjacent housing 1a and 1b manufacture. The tracks are running 3 on both sides 4 and 5 the carrier boards 2a and 2 B , This allows the carrier boards 2a and 2 B are slightly contacted with a slight inclination with respect to an alignment line A with each other electrically.

According to 2 is the one conductor end area 6 the here shown exemplarily carrier boards 2 in the form of resilient sliding contacts 7 educated. The single springy sliding contacts 7 which each track 3 are assigned, are made of sheet metal parts and by soldering to the associated conductor tracks 3 appropriate. The resilient sliding contacts 7 are essentially U-shaped in the direction of the carrier board 2 space-saving bent back.

These connection means come according to 3 with the conductor end areas 8th at the bottom 5 the carrier board 2 in contact. These conductor end areas 8th are applied as normal conductor tracks on the circuit board. About electrical contact pins 9 that with the tracks 3 are soldered, the tracks are 3 at the lower side shown here 5 with the tracks on the opposite - not visible here - upper side 4 electrically connected.

In the pre-assembly position after 4 are the carrier boards to be mounted together 2a and 2 B are aligned with each other at an acute inclination angle α with respect to the alignment axis A. The as resilient sliding contacts 7 Trained conductor end areas 6 the carrier board 2 B are achieved by movement along the line A, which corresponds to the assembly movement to be mounted - not shown - housing, with the corresponding Leiterbahnendbereichen 8th the other carrier board 2a brought into contact.

In the in 5 shown mounted state of the two carrier boards 2a and 2 B come the resilient sliding contacts 7 at the corresponding conductor end area 8th to plant.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

casing

2

carrier board

3

conductor path

4

upper side

5

lower side

6

Leiterbahnendbereich

7

sliding contact

8th

Leiterbahnendbereich

Claims (10)

Electrical arrangement for contacting a plurality of electrical and / or fluid-technical assemblies, each in an associated housing ( 1a . 1b ), which are mechanically and electrically connected to each other by juxtaposition, wherein a plurality of electrical lines having connecting means for the electrical interlinking of adjacent housing ( 1a . 1b ) are provided, characterized in that the connecting means in each case one with respect to the Aneinanderreihungsachse (A) at an acute angle of inclination (α) obliquely arranged carrier board ( 2 ; 2a . 2 B ), on which the electrical lines in the form of parallel and spaced-apart conductor tracks ( 3 ) on both sides ( 4 . 5 ) are applied in such a way that due to juxtaposition of two housings ( 2a . 2 B ) the conductor end regions ( 8th ) on a lower side ( 5 ) a first Carrier board ( 2a ) come into contact with corresponding conductor end regions ( 6 ) on an upper side ( 4 ) a second carrier board ( 2 B ). Electrical arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the conductor track end regions ( 6 ; 8th ) a carrier board ( 2 ) as resilient sliding contacts ( 7 ) are formed. Electrical arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the resilient sliding contacts ( 7 ) are made of individual bent sheet metal parts, which on the associated conductor tracks ( 3 ) are attached. Electrical arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the resilient sliding contacts ( 7 ) U-shaped in the direction of the carrier board ( 2 ) are bent back. Electrical arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the printed conductor end regions ( 8th ) on the lower side ( 5 ) of the carrier board ( 2 ) are designed as electrical input contacts, whereas the conductor track end areas ( 6 ) on the upper side ( 4 ) of the carrier board ( 2 ) are designed as electrical output contacts. Electrical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the acute angle of inclination (α) between succession axis (A) and carrier board ( 2 ) is in the range between 10 ° to 50 °. Electrical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor tracks ( 3 ) on the lower side (5) of the carrier board ( 2 ) extending therethrough by the carrier board material formed as an insulator ( 9 ) with the tracks ( 3 ) on the upper side ( 4 ) of the carrier board ( 2 ) are electrically connected. Electrical arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier board ( 2 ) with the exception of the conductor end regions ( 6 . 8th ) is coated with a liquid-repellent protective lacquer. Pneumatic valve unit with several housing ( 1a . 1b ) juxtaposed pneumatic valves, which is equipped with an electrical arrangement according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 for the transmission of electrical control signals to each valve. Pneumatic valve unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the electrical arrangement, the electrical control signals via parallel wiring via the interconnects ( 3 ) lined-up carrier boards ( 2a . 2 B ).

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