WO2015189276A1 - Unit module with a removeable housing part - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit module (1). Said unit module (1) comprises a first housing part (4a) and a second housing part (4b), the second housing part (4b) being detachably connected to the first housing part (4a). The second housing part (4b) is dimensioned such that it, together with the first housing part (4a), defines the dimensions of the unit module (1) so that they conform to standards.

Description

 Plant module with removable housing part

1. Field of the invention

 The present invention relates to a system module, in particular an electrical system module such as a power supply or a control unit, with a removable housing part.

2. State of the art

 In today's electrical systems mostly modules are used, which solve a special technical problem, for example, a power supply unit which secures the power supply of the system or individual parts of the system, or control devices for controlling the system processes. Since the power supply and control of a plant mostly several modules are used, they are usually installed in a so-called system cabinet or cabinet. In these cabinets are usually standardized mounting rails, which are also referred to as DIN rails on which or on which the devices can be attached. For example, these DIN rails are standardized according to DIN EN 60715. On these rails, the modules that have a corresponding fastener fasten. The fastening is in this case, for example, a lateral pushing or attaching to the mounting rails. The mounting rails make it possible to arrange the modules in the smallest possible space and to be able to exchange them individually and quickly when needed or when malfunctioning without having to remove all the modules.

The material used for the mounting rails mostly steel, copper or aluminum is used. Support rails made of copper or aluminum can be used in addition to the supporting function as a protective conductor. With regard to the dimensions of the housings of the modules, which are fastened to the mounting rails, there are various DIN standards. For example, DIN 43880 titled Installation Enclosures - Enclosures and Related Installation Dimensions that deals with the dimensions of components and enclosures for electrical installation, especially in enclosed distribution cabinets such as cabinets, patch panels and small distributors, these installation distribution boxes are mostly used in the building sector. The standardized housing dimensions of the system modules for such installation small distribution housing then result essentially from the special shape of the front panel of the installation small distribution housing. The predetermined width of the system module housing usually follows a pitch of 17.5 mm, referred to as a graduation unit. The depth of the system module housings must be at least 52 mm to reach from the DIN rail to the front panel of the installation manifold housing. The front must be 45 mm high, which corresponds to the height of the opening slot in the front panel of the

Installation small distributor housing corresponds. This correspondence ensures that all live parts, such as connections of the system module, are covered and can not be touched.

However, the known system modules have the disadvantage that they are always designed only for a dimensioning standard, for example, the above, but are not used variably and can be installed according to different standards. In order to meet the various standards, system modules are usually offered in different housing configurations, even if the inner workings of these system modules are identical.

3. Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system module which does not have the aforementioned disadvantage and which can be flexibly dimensioned such that it can fulfill a plurality of dimensioning standards. This object is achieved by that claimed in the independent claim System module solved. Preferred embodiments are reflected in the dependent claims.

The system module according to the invention has a first housing part and a second housing part. The two housing parts are detachably connectable. A releasable connection can be a reversible connection. Reversible is a connection when the first housing part and the second housing part can be fastened to each other in such a way that the housing parts do not detach themselves again from each other, but the housing parts can still be subsequently separated again. Separated in this case means that the housing parts can be separated again. It can also be said that the one housing part is removable from the other housing part. For example, the first housing part may represent a base housing part of the system module and be firmly connected to the system module, whereas the second housing part may be a removable housing part, which can be reversibly connected to the first housing part. The second housing part can be attached, for example, with a click connection to the first housing part of the system module. For this purpose, for example, engage a protruding part of the second housing part in a corresponding receptacle or opening in the first housing part of the system module and are held there, for example by means of contacting undercuts. The click connection prevents the first and the second housing part from disengaging independently, but if a force is exerted on the click connection, the housing parts can be released from each other again. However, the person skilled in the art also knows of other ways in which a housing part can be reversibly connected to another housing part. For example, the one housing part can be screwed, plugged or clamped with the aid of a fastening means on the other housing part. It is also conceivable that the housing parts are magnetically connected. The housing parts can be connected directly or indirectly. In the direct connection, the housing parts contact directly, whereas in the indirect connection, a further element between the housing parts is arranged. This is for example then necessary if the one housing part is to be electrically and / or mechanically separated from the other housing part, so that neither currents nor mechanical vibrations pass from one to the other housing part and / or transmitted.

The second housing parts of the system module according to the invention is dimensioned according to the invention such that the second housing part together with the first housing part dimensioned the system module standard conformity, that is, the shape and / or the dimension of the two housing parts together and accordingly corresponds to the shape and / or dimension of the system module a predetermined by a standard shape and / or dimension.

The system module according to the invention with removable housing part can thus be dimensioned flexible and can be adapted to different standards or to different needs. In the system module according to the invention it is sufficient to replace the removable housing part in order to adapt the system module to different or changing standards, without it being necessary to use a completely new system module with a different housing. Furthermore, the removable housing part can also be completely omitted if, for example, no standard-compliant installation method is prescribed, so that the system module can be installed as small as possible in this case.

In a preferred embodiment of the system module according to the invention, the second housing part of the system module is a dummy housing. This means that the housing part contains no functionality, but only serves to dimension the system module in form and / or dimension compliant with standards. This has the advantage that one and the same base housing part can be used for a system module and this can be provided with different blind housings in order to adapt the system module to different standards without having to use a different housing each time. Furthermore, the removable housing part also has the advantage that a system module from a standard compliant Plant installation, for example, from a control cabinet assembly, can be removed and used in another standard-compliant plant installation, since only the abnhembare housing part must be changed, but not the entire system module or its entire housing must be replaced. Of course, the same applies in the event that norms change. Replacement of the entire system module or its housing is not necessary in this case, but only the replacement of the removable housing part is necessary. It is also conceivable that the blind housing can not only be connected to a first housing part of a single system module, but with a plurality of first housing parts of several system modules, which are installed side by side in a cabinet. In this case, the blind housing can connect the various system modules with each other. In this case, the blind housing can also perform a security function, namely that the system modules connected to the blind housing can only be removed jointly because they exercise, for example, process-important functions and should only be replaced together. It is also conceivable that the blind housing has a fuse that can be removed only with a key or a special tool before the system modules connected to the blind housing can be replaced. The skilled person is aware that this fuse can be any type of fuse. The connection of several system modules by means of a blind housing can also be advantageous if only one system module fits on the mounting rail but other system modules are needed. In this case, the dummy housing connecting the system modules can provide the necessary stability. In a further preferred embodiment of the system module according to the invention, the removable housing part has active or passive functionality. For example, the first housing part can have openings for connections of the system module. In the event that these connections should not be covered by the second housing part and accessibility of the connections should be ensured, the second housing part may have a connection replicator. This ensures that the connections in the first housing part are mapped to corresponding connections in the second housing part and, accordingly, are also accessible when the first housing part and the second housing part are connected. For this purpose, the second housing part, for example, on the one hand corresponding to the terminals of the first housing part engaging connector, which are connected via cables or conductors with terminals in the second housing part. In this case, the connections in the second housing part can be arranged the same as in the first housing part or have a different configuration. However, it is also conceivable that not all connections of the first housing part are mapped to connections of the second housing part, but only a subset is displayed. However, the second housing part can also have a connection converter which converts the connection type of the first housing to a different type of connection. This has for example the advantage that the system module does not have to be provided with different connections, but by placing the removable housing part conversion is possible. It is also conceivable that the second housing part includes a logic circuit that supports or enables the implementation of the connections. Structurally, a second housing part with active or passive functionality can offer the same advantages as a blind housing described above. In addition, a second housing part with active or passive functionality can also form a bridge between at least two system modules. This bridge can be used as a bus between the plant modules, for example.

In a further preferred embodiment of the system module according to the invention, the removable housing part has an active electronic module. For example, this active electronic module may be intended to support, monitor, or visualize the function of the plant module. For this purpose, the second housing part a variety of logic circuits, memory, displays, and / or displays. But it is also conceivable that the active electronic module of the removable housing part is used as a diagnostic module. For example, a first Blind housing to be mounted on a system module, which is replaced in case of failure or for routine diagnosis by a removable housing part with active electronic module to perform the diagnosis, display, or to forward the results. For this purpose, the second housing part with active electronic module provide a variety of communication means.

4. Brief description of the drawings

Further details, features and advantages of the subject of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, as well as from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of the invention is shown. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the system module according to the invention mounted on a DIN rail; FIG. a perspective view of an embodiment of the system module according to the invention with removable housing part; and a perspective view of an embodiment of the system module according to the invention without removable housing part.

5. Description of preferred embodiments

1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a system module 1. The system module 1 has in the embodiment shown here on the back of a fastener 2, with the system module 1 can be attached to a top hat rail 3. The DIN rail 3 in the embodiment shown here is a DIN EN 60715 compliant DIN rail 3. The attachment of the system module 1 on the top hat rail 3 via a known in the art clamping behind the protruding wings of the "U" -shaped hat rail 3. The expert clear that it various DIN-compliant top hat rails 3 and the corresponding to these DIN rails 3 mounting units.

The plant module 1 consists in the embodiment shown here of a first housing part 4a and a second housing part 4b. The second housing part 4b is fastened on the first housing part 4a by means of a click connection. This click connection is a reversible connection, so that the second housing part 4b is removable. The click connection is realized by protruding elements on the second housing part 4b, which engage in recesses 5a - not visible in the perspective view - and 5b engage in the first housing part 4a and can latch there by means of undercuts. The second housing part 4b serves to dimension the shape and / or dimension of the plant module 1 in accordance with the standard. This is necessary, for example, when the plant module 1 is mounted in a cabinet on a top hat rail 3. For example, the system module 1 in this case must comply with the specifications of DIN 43880 in terms of shape and dimensions. These specifications can be fulfilled by means of the second housing part 4b, even if the first housing part 4a of the system module 1 does not otherwise meet these requirements. For this purpose, the second housing part 4b is dimensioned such that it closes the gaps between the predetermined by the standard shape and / or dimension and the shape and / or dimension of the first housing part 4a. Accordingly, the first housing part 4a and the second housing part 4b together fulfill the specifications in terms of shape and / or dimension which are predetermined by a standard.

2a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a plant module 1. The plant module 1 shown in Figure 2a has a first and second housing part 4a, 4b, wherein the second housing part 4b is removable from the first housing part 4a. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the second housing part 4b is fastened on the first housing part 4a of the system module 1 by means of a click connection. In this case, projecting elements of the second housing part 4b engage in recesses 5a - not visible in the perspective view - and 5b in the first housing part 4a of FIG Plant module l, so that by intersections with the edges of the openings 5a and 5b and the protruding elements of the second housing part 4b, a locking is generated. However, the person skilled in the art is aware that there will also be other realizable detachable connections of the housing parts 4a, 4b.

The housing part 4a, 4b together ensure that the system module 1 is dimensioned such that it is compliant with the standard. This standard conformity is necessary, for example, if the system module 1 is installed in a control cabinet or system cabinet. However, if the system module 1 is not installed in a control cabinet or system cabinet, then the second housing part 4b can be removed. This has the advantage that the system module 1 can be installed smaller.

The decrease of the second housing part 4b may also be advantageous in order to achieve a better cooling of the active components of the plant module 1. For example, if the plant module 1 is a power supply, as is the case in the embodiment shown here, the first housing part 4a of the plant module 1, which is for example firmly connected to the plant module 1, usually a plurality of slots or openings, can flow through the air into the interior of the first housing part 4a, so that the power supply unit or the active components located therein can be cooled. By removing the second housing part 4b, the air supply can be increased, resulting in improved cooling. However, it can also be advantageous for other electrical components with active or passive cooling if a housing part is removable in order to improve the cooling effect. The system module 1 with removed second housing part 4b is shown in FIG. 2b.

FIG. 2b shows the plant module 1 shown in FIG. 2a but without the second housing part 4b. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the second housing part 4b is connected to the first housing part 4a by means of a click connection. Here are the prominent elements of the second housing part 4b in the recesses 5a and 5b of the first housing part 4a and by means of undercuts lock the protruding elements in the recesses 5a and 5b, so that the housing parts 4a, 4b are interconnected. However, the person skilled in the art is aware that other reversible connections of the two housing parts 4a, 4b (not shown here) are possible. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, it can be seen that, without the second housing part 4b, further slots and openings in the first housing part 4a are exposed, which leads to better cooling of the active components of the system module 1, which are located inside the first housing part 4a.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 plant module

 2 fastener

3 DIN rail

 4a first housing part

4b second housing part

5a, 5b recesses

Claims

claims 1. An installation module (1), comprising:  a first housing part (4a); and  a second housing part (4b), wherein the second housing part (4b) is releasably connectable to the first housing part (4a) and wherein the second housing part (4b) is dimensioned such that it together with the first housing part (4a) the system module (1 ) dimensioned according to standards. 2. The plant module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second housing part (4b) is a dummy housing. 3. The plant module (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (4a) has openings for connections. 4. The plant module (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second housing part (4b) has a connection replicator. 5. The plant module (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second housing part (4b) has a connection converter. 6. The plant module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second housing part (4b) has an active electronic module. 7. The plant module (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the standard is the DIN 43880.