EP2783118B1 - Supply module and module chain - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a supply module for queuing in a module chain from along a Aufreihungsachse lined up, electrically interconnected in a Z-concatenation function modules; a first coupling surface adapted to be attached to a functional module arranged in advance along the array axis and having a plurality of electrical input terminals and a second coupling surface adapted for attachment to a functional module disposed downstream of the array axis and having a plurality of electrical output terminals; wherein a predeterminable assignment of the input terminals is provided to the output terminals and wherein at least one input terminal as a supply input for feeding a supply voltage from a previous functional module and at least one output terminal as a supply output for forwarding the supply voltage to a subsequent functional module are formed and wherein an additional input for a Infeed of an auxiliary supply voltage from an electrical energy source and an output terminal as an additional output for a Forwarding of the additional supply voltage to the longitudinal axis of the alignment axis arranged below functional module are provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a module chain with at least one supply module.

From the Where 2007/042090 A1 Modular system is known which comprises a head module having at least one external bus external connection bus, at least one pneumatic supply connection, an electrical supply connection and, each on the same side, an internal serial bus serial bus interface, an electrical supply interface, Multipole interface and a pneumatic supply interface has. The module system further comprises at least one functional module, each carrying out from one side to the opposite side and to which a corresponding interface of the head module is connected, an internal serial bus line, electrical supply lines, electrical multipole lines and pneumatic supply lines. The head module converts serial bus signals into multipole signals and outputs them at the multipole interface. The functional module selectively branches off at least one of the multipole lines and carries out a pneumatic or electrical or both a pneumatic and an electrical function with a signal carried thereon.

The object of the invention is to provide a supply module and a module chain, which enable a region-wise, predefinable supply of functional modules with an electrical voltage which can be provided independently of the supply voltage.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the invention for a supply module of the type mentioned with the features of claim 1. In this case, between at least one input terminal and an associated output terminal, a switching means is looped, which for an optional switching between a first conductor branch, the the input terminal connects to the output terminal and a second conductor branch, which connects the output terminal to the auxiliary input, is provided.

At the additional input, which is preferably arranged away from the first and second coupling surface on the supply module, an additional supply voltage can be fed into the supply module, which can be used for a predetermined number of subsequently attachable along the array axis function modules. The supplemental supply voltage may have electrical characteristics that differ from the supply voltage. For example, the auxiliary supply voltage may have a higher or lower electrical voltage than the supply voltage. Additionally or alternatively, the electrical energy source, which is provided for providing the additional supply voltage, designed in a different manner, in particular differently designed to be electrically secured, as is the case for the electrical energy source, which provides the supply voltage. In addition, it may additionally or alternatively be provided to change the additional supply voltage in different operating states of the module chain, into which the supply module can be inserted, or to provide a temporary disconnection of the additional supply voltage. As a result, it is possible to influence the function modules coupled to the supply module and acted upon by the additional supply voltage.

The switching means can be used to set whether there is a direct connection between the input terminal and the output terminal or whether the input terminal is disconnected from the output terminal and a supply and forwarding of electrical energy to the associated output terminal by means of the auxiliary input. Preferably If the switching means is a mechanical switch, which is set manually in the configuration of the supply module to the respective switching position. This mechanical switch can be designed, in particular, as a DIP switch (dual in-line package), as an arrangement of a plurality of plug-in posts which can be electrically connected to one another by connecting parts (jumper) or as a wire spring element (hairpin contact).

Typically, the construction of module chains is not carried out by the end customer who wants to control, for example, a pneumatically operable device, but in the factory, which is responsible for the production of the functional modules and the supply modules. Since the module chains are usually assembled and mounted in accordance with a predetermined specification, the number of functional modules, each with the aid of a supply module with a different from the supply voltage or at least separately controllable additional supply voltage to be applied, set. Thus, the respective switching means are brought in the compilation of the module chain in the desired switching position. Preferably, the switching means are no longer accessible after assembly of the module chain and thus neither mechanically nor electrically or electronically changeable. This ensures that the safety-related configuration of the module chain, depending on the application, remains unchanged during operation.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

It is advantageous if the second conductor branch is assigned a transmission means which is designed for a galvanically separated forwarding of a switching signal which can be provided at the input connection to the output connection. The transmission means ensures that the supply voltage and the additional supply voltage do not influence one another, as this could result in undesired operating states of the functional modules.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the transmission means comprise a transmission means for transmitting a Coupling signal in response to the switchable signal provided at the input terminal and a receiving means for receiving the coupling signal comprises, wherein the receiving means comprises a controllable with the coupling signal switching means, which is designed to enable an electrical path between the output terminal and the auxiliary input. The transmitting means and the receiving means are designed such that a switching signal, which may in particular be an electrical potential change at the input terminal, is transmitted as a coupling signal. When the coupling signal is received, the switching means assigned to the receiving means guarantees the release of the electrical path between the output terminal and the auxiliary input, so that, for example, when a coupling signal arrives, an electrical current can flow from the output terminal to the auxiliary input. The coupling signal can be present for example as an electromagnetic wave or as a magnetic field.

Preferably, the transmission means is electrically connected between the supply input and the associated input terminal. As a result, regardless of the additional supply voltage, an electrical supply of the transmitting means is always ensured with electrical energy. In addition, a simple forwarding of a switching signal that can be applied to the input terminal, which is transmitted from one, in particular at the beginning of the module chain attachable, control module through the function modules through to the supply module, thereby ensuring. Preferably, the switching signal is designed as an electrical potential difference with respect to the supply voltage applied to the supply input, so that there is an electrical potential difference between the supply terminal and the input terminal in the presence of the switching signal, which leads to a current flow through the transmitting means and thus to the emission of a coupling signal.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the transmission means comprises an optocoupler and / or a capacitive coupler and / or an inductive coupler. In an optocoupler, the transmitting means is adapted to emit electromagnetic waves, in particular in the range of visible light and / or in the range of ultraviolet radiation and / or in the range of infrared radiation, while the receiving means of an optocoupler is adapted to receive the electromagnetic waves and in the presence of a predeterminable signal level of the transmitted coupling signal to control the associated switching means, with the aid of which the electrical path between the output terminal and the auxiliary input can be enabled or disabled.

It is expedient if at least one input terminal is electrically connected to the associated output terminal in a direct, uninterrupted manner. This allows a direct transfer of a switching signal from the input terminal to the output terminal.

According to a second aspect, the object of the invention for a module chain is arranged along a line-up, electrically interconnected in a Z-chain function modules in that between two adjacent function modules arranged a supply module according to one of claims 1 to 8 is ranked. With the aid of such a supply module, a predeterminable region of the module chain, in particular one or more functional modules arranged directly on the supply module, can be subjected to an additional supply voltage deviating from the supply voltage and / or separately controllable.

Preferably, in the module chain, a number of functional modules following the supply module, which can be introduced into the supply module for admission to the supply module Supplementary supply voltage are provided, by releasing a corresponding number of electrical connections between the auxiliary input and output terminals, which serve as additional outputs, can be specified. Thus, the supply module can be adapted to the requirements of the subsequently arranged functional modules by, for example, two subsequently arranged function modules are acted upon by the additional supply voltage and the other functional modules with the supply voltage, which is looped through the supply module, are applied. For this purpose, it is expedient if, in the module chain, an electrical line path for the supply voltage is extended through the function modules arranged along the line-up axis.

Figur 1

eine schematisches Schaltbild eines Versorgungsmoduls und

Figur 2

eine Modulkette mit einem Steuermodul, mehreren Funktionsmodulen und mehreren Versorgungsmodulen.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Hereby shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic diagram of a supply module and

FIG. 2

a module chain with a control module, several function modules and several supply modules.

In the FIG. 1 a supply module 1 is shown schematically, which is to be classified in a in the FIG. 2 module chain 2 shown in detail is formed. The module chain 2 comprises a plurality of functional modules 5, 6, which are arranged along a line-up axis 3 and are electrically interconnected in a Z-chain 4.

That in the FIG. 1 illustrated supply module 1, for example, a cubic housing 7, on which two coupling surfaces 8, 9 are formed on opposite surfaces. The first coupling surface 8 is arranged for attachment to a longitudinal axis of the Aufreihungsachse 3 previously Function module 5 or 6 formed. As an example, the coupling surface 8 is planar and has a plurality of electrical input terminals 10. Preferably, the input terminals 10 along a straight line 11, in particular equidistant in a predetermined grid, arranged to each other. The input terminals 10 may be formed, for example, as metallic or metallized contact surfaces and allow the provision of electrical potentials and / or electric currents to the supply module 1. Further, the supply module 1 at the second coupling surface 9, which is aligned opposite to the first coupling surface 8 and the by way of example, a plurality of electrical output terminals 12. The second coupling surface 9 is designed for attachment to a longitudinal axis of the Aufreihungsachse 3 subsequently arranged functional module 5 or 6. The arranged on the second coupling surface 9 output terminals 12 are preferably opposite to the input terminals 10, in particular along a straight line 15 equidistant in a predeterminable grid arranged. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of the supply module 1, each input terminal 10 is assigned a corresponding output terminal 12.

By way of example, two of the input terminals are designed as first and second supply inputs 16, 17, which can be used for feeding a supply voltage from a preceding function module 5 or 6. Like from the FIG. 2 it can be seen, only one of the two supply inputs 16, 17 is used, while the other supply input 16, 17 remains unused. For a selection between the two supply inputs 16, 17, a switching means 18 is provided in the supply module 1, which is exemplarily designed as a mechanical, manually operated switch. With this switching means 18, the respective supply module 1 is to be provided according to the Supply voltage configured and maintains this set configuration with suitable design of the switching means 18 reliably. The switching means 18 each establish an electrical connection of the first or second supply input 16, 17 with an output terminal 12 designed as a supply output 19, which is arranged opposite to the first supply input 16. An output terminal 12 arranged corresponding to the second supply input 17 is electrically connected to an additional input 20 and thus serves as additional output 21. This additional output 21 is for forwarding an additional electrical supply voltage provided to the additional line 20 to the functional module 5 or 6 and subsequently arranged along the line-up axis 3 optionally also provided to further functional modules 5, 6.

Preferably, the auxiliary input 20 is disposed on a side surface of the housing 7 and is electrically connected to an unspecified electrical auxiliary power source, which is preferably formed independently of an electrical power source, also not shown, which in turn to provide the supply voltage to one of Supply inputs 16, 17 is formed.

By way of example, in the supply module 1 between each of the input terminals 10 and the output terminals 12 respectively switching means 22 are looped, which allows for an optional switching between a first conductor branch 23, which allows a direct connection of the input terminal 10 with the associated output terminal 12, and a second conductor branch 24th which connects the output terminal 12 to the auxiliary input 20 are formed. Preferably, the switching means 22 is designed as a mechanical, manually operated switch. When the switching means 22 is in a first switching position, an immediate electrical Coupling of the input terminal 10 with the output terminal 12 guaranteed. Provided that the switching means 22 is in a second switching position, the first conductor branch 23 is interrupted and a current flow is only possible between the auxiliary input 20 and the associated output terminal 12. In order to ensure a dependence of the current flow of a provided at the associated input terminal 10 switching signal for this switching state of the switching means 22, the second conductor branch 24, a transmission means 25 is assigned. The transmission means 25 is set up for galvanic isolation between a switching signal which can be provided at the input terminal 10 and the auxiliary supply voltage which can be provided at the output terminal as a consequence of the switching signal. By way of example, the transmission means 25 is designed as an optocoupler and comprises a transmission means 28 embodied by way of example as a light-emitting diode for emitting a coupling signal as a function of the switching signal which can be provided at the respectively assigned input terminal 10. Furthermore, the transmission means comprises a receiving means designed as a photosensitive phototransistor 29 for receiving the coupling signal, which can be designed such that it releases the electrical path between the auxiliary input 20 and the output terminal 12 upon arrival of a coupling signal. This electrical path runs via the ground connection between the phototransistor 29 and the ground terminal 32 of the auxiliary input 20. It is advantageous that when using multiple supply modules 1 each different ground potentials can be applied to the different additional inputs 20, which is why these in the FIG. 2 are designated A and B respectively. By closing this electrical path can thus be a derivative of the electrical energy from an actuator component 30 of an arrayed valve module 6 to the additional input 20, as shown in the FIG. 2 is shown in more detail.

In the present case, the transmitting means 28 is electrically connected to the switching means 18 so that it is always electrically supplied with a provided at the supply inputs 16, 17 supply voltage, so that regardless of a voltage applied to the auxiliary input 20 additional supply voltage upon arrival of a switching signal at the associated input terminal 10, a transmission a coupling signal can be caused.

The in the FIG. 2 shown module chain 2 is exemplified to control fluidic actuators not shown in detail such as pneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinders, rotary actuators, motors or the like and has for this purpose a first trained as a control unit 5 function module and several along the alignment axis 3 on the control unit 5 lined up, as a valve modules 6 trained functional modules. Other functional modules not shown in detail, such as input / output modules for operating sensors, may also be provided. The valve modules 6 each have at a first coupling surface 38 a number of input terminals 40 whose arrangement is adapted to the arrangement of the output terminals 12 on the supply module 1 and in the same way to the arrangement of output terminals 52 of the control module 5. Thus, by way of example, the control module 5 can optionally provide a provision of a supply voltage to the downstream valve module 6 via a first or second supply output 53, 54. Furthermore, via the further output terminals 52 of the control module 5 individually, in particular in response to a bus signal which is fed via a bus interface, not shown in the control module 5, a control of the associated valve modules 6 are made by means of switching signals.

By way of example, it is provided that an actuator component 30 arranged in the valve module 6, in which it is, for example, is a solenoid coil of a fluidic switching valve, between an acted upon by the supply voltage conductor branch 31 and the respective first with the switching signal of the control module 5 can be acted upon input terminal 10 is electrically conductively looped. Accordingly, in the presence of a switching signal, a current can flow from the supply terminal 17 through the actuator component 30 to the input terminal 40 and from there to the control module 5. In order for a second valve module 6, which is arranged adjacent to the first valve module 6, to have the same construction as the previously arranged valve module 6, a Z-concatenation of the output connections 42 to the input connections 40 is provided in the valve modules 6. In this case, the input terminals 40 and the output terminals 42 are each arranged in an equidistant manner according to a predefinable grid dimension along straight lines, not shown, with electrically interconnected input and output terminals being offset from one another by the grid dimension. In contrast, no Z-chainings of the input and output terminals 10, 12 vorgehsehen in the two supply modules 1, since only an electrically coupled or galvanically separated forwarding of switching signals of the control module 5 takes place.

At the in FIG. 2 illustrated module chain 2, the closer to the control module 5 arranged supply module 1 is provided to supply the two along the Aufreihungsachse 3 subsequent valve modules 6 with an additional input 20 can be applied to the first auxiliary supply voltage. Accordingly, the two output terminals 12, which are electrically connected to the actuator components 30 of the two subsequent valve modules 6, galvanically separated from the associated input terminals 10 due to the switch position of the respective switching means 22. When an auxiliary supply voltage is provided at the auxiliary input 20 and provision of a Switching signal to one of these two valve modules 6, only a coupling signal is transmitted from the transmission means due to the galvanic isolation upon arrival of the switching signal. This coupling signal causes the phototransistor 29 to become conductive and a current flow from one pole of the additional input 20 through the respective actuator component 30 and through the phototransistor 29 to the second pole of the auxiliary input 20 can take place.

All electrically coupled through the closer to the control module 5 supply module 1 looped through switching signals pass through the two subsequent valve modules 6 unaffected and can be forwarded in subsequent supply module 1 depending on the switch position of the available switching means 22 either galvanically coupled or decoupled. The galvanically decoupled switching signals can be forwarded with a second additional supply voltage to the associated valve modules 6, of which only one is shown by way of example.

Claims (8)

1. Supply module for insertion into a module chain (2) of electric functional modules (5, 6) lined up along a line-up axis (3) and connected to one another in a Z linkage (4), the supply module comprising a first coupling surface (8) designed for mounting on a functional module (5, 6) placed upstream along the line-up axis (3) and having a plurality of electric input connections (10) and a second coupling surface (9) designed for mounting on a functional module (5, 6) placed downstream along the line-up axis (3) and having a plurality of electric output connections (12), wherein a presettable assignment of the input connections (10) to the output connections (12) is provided and wherein at least one input connection (10) is designed as a supply input (16, 17) for feeding in a supply voltage from an upstream functional module (5, 6) and at least one output connection (12) is designed as a supply output (19) for transferring the supply voltage to a downstream functional module (5, 6), wherein an auxiliary input (20) for a feed-in of an auxiliary supply voltage from an electric energy source is provided and an output connection (12) is provided as an auxiliary output (21) for transferring the auxiliary supply voltage to at least one functional module (5, 6) placed downstream along the line-up axis (3), characterised in that, between at least one input connection (10) and an associated output connection (12), there is looped in a switching means (22) designed for optionally switching between a first conductor branch (23), which connects the input connection (10) to the output connection (12), and a second conductor branch (24), which connects the output connection (12) to the auxiliary connection (20).
2. Supply module according to claim 1, characterised in that a transmission means (25) designed for an galvanically isolated transfer of a switching signal which can be made available at the input connection (10) to the output connection (12) is assigned to the second conductor branch (24).
3. Supply module according to claim 2, characterised in that the transmission means (25) comprises a sending means (28) for sending out a coupling signal as a function of the switching signal which can be made available at the input connection (10) and a receiving means (29) for receiving the coupling signal, wherein the receiving means (29) comprises a switching means which can be activated by the coupling signal and which is designed for enabling an electric path between the output connection (12) and the auxiliary input (20).
4. Supply module according to claim 3, characterised in that the sending means (28) is electrically looped between the supply input (16, 17) and the associated input connection (10).
5. Supply module according to claim 2 3 or 4, characterised in that the transmission means (25) comprises an optical coupler and/or a capacitive coupler and/or an inductive coupler.
6. Supply module according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one input connection (10) is electrically connected to the associated output connection (12) in a direct, uninterrupted manner.
7. Module chain of functional modules (6) lined up along a line-up axis (3) and connected to one another in a Z linkage, the module chain comprising a supply module (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is inserted between two adjacently arranged functional modules (6), characterised in that a number of functional modules (6) downstream of the supply module (1), which are provided for an application of the auxiliary supply voltage which can be introduced into the supply module (1), is presettable by enabling a corresponding number of electric connections between the auxiliary input (20) and output connections (12) which act as auxiliary outputs (21).
8. Supply module according to claim 7, characterised in that an electric path for the supply voltage extends through the functional modules (6) arranged along the line-up axis (3).

Images