MODULE CARRIER IN THE FIELD OF SECONDARY EXPLOSION PROTECTION

Abstract

A module carrier for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere, in particular in a potentially explosive atmosphere in the form of gas or dust, including a housing for receiving at least one module with a pushbutton, wherein the at least one module can be switched to live via the pushbutton, wherein the module carrier further includes a locking cap, wherein the locking cap has a device for actuating the pushbutton and wherein, in the unactuated state, the pushbutton is switched to not live and the pushbutton is actuatable by locking the locking cap using the actuating device.

Claims

1. A module carrier for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere, in particular in a potentially explosive atmosphere in the form of gas or dust, comprising a housing for receiving at least one module with a pushbutton, wherein the at least one module can be switched to live via the pushbutton, wherein the module carrier further comprises a locking cap, wherein the locking cap has a device for actuating the pushbutton and wherein, in the unactuated state, the pushbutton is switched to not live and the pushbutton is actuatable by locking the locking cap using the actuating device.

2. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the module is a power supply unit module.

3. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the housing (5) has a cage element.

4. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the locking cap has at least one snap hook.

5. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein, when the locking cap is locked, the pushbutton lies behind a module cap (7), which is blocked by the locking cap.

6. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the locking cap covers the module in the locked state such that, under the locking cap, the module is not releasable.

7. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein removing the module and the locking cap from the module carrier at the same time is ruled out by design.

8. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the pushbutton switches an inherently safe release circuit, which switches the module to live or currentless via a relay.

9. The module carrier according to claim 1, wherein the locking cap is designed translucent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Further details and advantages of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment example represented in the drawings.

[0038] There are shown in:

[0039] FIG. 1 a schematic view of the embodiment example of the module carrier with a module in the locked-in-place state;

[0040] FIG. 2 a locking cap in a released state; and

[0041] FIG. 3 a detail view of the module carrier with locking element locked in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] An embodiment example of the module carrier with a module is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0043] The module carrier 1 comprises a housing 5. In the case shown the module 9 is received in the housing 5.

[0044] The module 9 here is a power supply unit module 9, in particular a PSM24 module.

[0045] The module 9 is installed in the module carrier 1, by being pushed into a slot for example with a plug-in side 9a. Electrical contacts of the module 9 are hereby connected to electrical contacts of the slot.

[0046] In the embodiment example, the housing 5 comprises two lateral cage elements 6, which are arranged along the sides of the module 9 arranged substantially perpendicular to the plug-in side 9a of the module 9 and between which the module 9 can be pushed in.

[0047] The housing 9 furthermore comprises a module cap 7, which in the case shown receives the side of the module 9 facing away from the plug-in side 9a.

[0048] In the embodiment example, the lateral cage elements 6 and the module cap 7 are connected by means of detents, with the result that the module cap 7 is secured against accidental release from the lateral cage elements 6. In particular, it is thereby ensured that the module 9 cannot be removed without previously removing the module cap 7.

[0049] In the embodiment example, the lateral cage elements 6 are set up to be firmly connected to a substrate to the side of a slot for the module 9. They thereby form guides which make it easier to push the module 9 into the slot.

[0050] The module carrier 1 furthermore comprises a locking cap 15, which is formed following the contour of a module cap 7.

[0051] The locking cap 15 has a bow-shaped design and is mounted via the module cap 7.

[0052] On two opposite sides the locking cap 15 has in each case snap hooks 16, which can snap into place on the lateral cage elements 6, which prevents an accidental release of the locking cap 15. In this state the locking cap 15 is locked in place on the side facing away from the plug-in side, i.e. on the front face of the module 9. It can in particular be released again only if the snap hooks 16 are released beforehand.

[0053] The locking cap 15 furthermore conceals the front face of the module 9 as well as of the module cap 7.

[0054] The locking cap 15 covers the module 9 in the locked state in such a way that the module 9 under the locking cap 15 is not releasable. Conversely, this means that the module 9 can be released and in particular removed from a slot only if the locking cap 15 is removed beforehand.

[0055] In addition, removing the module 9 and the locking cap 15 from the module carrier 1 at the same time is ruled out by design. In particular, the locking cap cannot be removed together with the module 9 in its locked or locked-in-place state. The locking of the locking cap 15 therefore has to be released first in order to be able to remove the module 9 from the module carrier 1.

[0056] The locking cap 15 furthermore has an actuating device 13. This actuating device 13 lies behind the locking cap 15 when the locking cap 15 is locked.

[0057] In the example, it is formed as a pin or elongate projection which protrudes from the locking cap 15 and extends towards the module 9.

[0058] In particular, the locking cap 15, the snap hooks 16 and the actuating device 13 are formed in one piece, for instance in a plastic part.

[0059] If the locking cap is locked in place on the module carrier 1 with the module 9, then the actuating device 13 is pressed in the direction of the module 9 and in the process actuates a pushbutton 12, which is comprised by the module 9.

[0060] In particular, the module cap 7 has a recess, through which the actuating device 13 can reach the pushbutton 12 of the module 9 and actuate it.

[0061] Conversely, the pushbutton 12 is no longer actuated when the locking cap 15 is removed.

[0062] The pushbutton 12 is formed such that a circuit is closed when it is actuated, i.e. when pressure is exerted on the pushbutton 12. In the embodiment example, the pushbutton 12 switches an inherently safe release circuit 20, which switches the module 9 to live or currentless via a relay 21.

[0063] The module 9 is set up in order that it is only live while the pushbutton 12 is being actuated.

[0064] Conversely, the circuit is opened when the pushbutton 12 is not actuated, in particular when the locked state is released and the locking cap 15 is removed. As the pushbutton 12 is then no longer actuated, the module 9 is also in a not live state.

[0065] As the locking cap 15 has to be released in order to be able to remove the module 9, it is therefore ensured that the module 9 is first brought into a not live state before the module 9 can then be removed.

[0066] In further embodiment examples, other embodiments of the actuating device 13 are provided. Furthermore, various types of pushbuttons 12 can be provided. For example, a magnetically and/or inductively actuatable pushbutton 12 or an alternative switch can be provided; the pushbutton 12 can furthermore be formed differently from a conventional pushbutton switch. According to the type of pushbutton 12, the actuating device 13 is formed such that it actuates the pushbutton 12 when the locking cap 15 is locked in place on the module carrier 1.

[0067] In particular, the pushbutton 12 or an alternative switch is formed such that the module 9 is only switched to live during the actuation by the actuating element 13 of the locking cap 15.

[0068] In the installed state of the module carrier 1 the locked-in-place locking cap 15 conceals the view of the front side of the module cap 7 and of the module 9 from a user. In the embodiment example, the locking cap 15 is formed translucent, with the result that for instance inscriptions of the module cap 7 and/or of the module 9 are visible and light signals and status displays can be detected, for instance the light of an LED.

[0069] With the module carrier 1 according to the invention it is accordingly achieved that the module 9 in an installed state is fixed by a locked-in-place locking cap 15. In the process an actuating device 13 actuates a pushbutton 12 of the module 9 as long as the locking cap 15 is locked in place. Through this actuation the module 9 is switched to live. To disassemble the module 9, the locking cap 15 first has to be released from being locked in place. This leads to the deactivation of the pushbutton 12 and thus to the switching of the module 9 into a currentless state. Only then can the module 9 be removed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0070] 1 module carrier [0071] 5 housing [0072] 6 lateral cage element [0073] 7 module cap [0074] 9 module; power supply unit module [0075] 9a plug-in side [0076] 12 pushbutton [0077] 13 actuating device for the pushbutton 12 [0078] 15 locking cap [0079] 16 snap hooks [0080] 20 release circuit [0081] 21 relay