Electropneumatic controller and process control device equipped therewith

Abstract

An electropneumatic control apparatus, which has a carrier module, on which a control unit, which is equipped with control electronics and control valve elements, and an expansion module assembly, which has at least one expansion module, are installed independently of each other. By means of a drive fastening interface, the control apparatus can be installed on the actuating drive to be controlled, in order to form a process control device.

Claims

1. An electropneumatic controller, which is designed to control a pneumatic actuator, comprising an actuator mounting interface designed for mounting on the pneumatic actuator to be controlled, further comprising an electropneumatic control unit, which contains a control electronics designed to process feedback signals of the actuator and which contains control valve means electrically actuatable by the control electronics, and comprising at least one working channel, which, is connected to the control valve means and, has a main working outlet serving to pneumatically connect to an actuating chamber of the actuator to be controlled, wherein the controller comprises a carrier module, which has a control unit interface and, a separate extension interface, wherein the control unit is mounted on the control unit interface and wherein an extension module arrangement having at least one extension module is mounted on the extension interface independently of the control unit, said extension module arrangement and the carrier module being passed through by the at least one working channel.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller has two working channels and two main working outlets.

3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the actuator mounting interface is arranged on the carrier module separate from the control unit interface and from the extension interface.

4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the main working outlet of each working channel is formed on the carrier module.

5. The controller according to claim 4, wherein the actuator mounting interface is arranged on the carrier module separate from the control unit interface and from the extension interface, wherein the main working outlet of each working channel is arranged directly on the actuator mounting interface such that a direct fluid connection of each main working outlet is present with the actuator in the state of the controller being mounted on an actuator by means of the actuator mounting interface.

6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the carrier module is formed in an L shape and has two carrier module limbs at right angles to one another, which together delimit a receiving region for the control unit on two sides, wherein the control unit interface is formed on the inner surface of at least one of the carrier module limbs facing the receiving region and wherein the extension interface is formed on the outer surface of one of the carrier module limbs facing away from the receiving region.

7. The controller according to claim 6, wherein the control unit interface has two interface sections, wherein on the inner surface of each carrier module limb, one of the two interface sections is arranged and wherein the control unit is mounted to both interface sections.

8. The controller according to claim 6, wherein each working channel passes through at least one of the two carrier module limbs.

9. The controller according to claim 6, wherein the extension interface is formed on the outer surface of one of the two carrier module limbs and wherein one or both of the actuator mounting interface and of the main working outlet of at least one working channel is formed on the outer surface of the other one of the two carrier module limbs.

10. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a control unit housing, inside of which the control electronics and the control valve means are housed in a manner shielded from the environment.

11. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the control electronics has at least one feedback signal input suitable for receiving feedback signals of the actuator.

12. The controller according to claim 11, wherein the control unit has a control unit housing, inside of which the control electronics and the control valve means are housed in a manner shielded from the environment, wherein the control unit is equipped with feedback means connected to the feedback signal input by means of signalling technology and serving to generate feedback signals of the actuator, wherein the feedback means are arranged in the control unit housing, wherein the carrier module has a through-hole, through which a feedback member interacting with the feedback means protrudes, which is movement-coupled with a movable actuating unit of the actuator or is directly formed by such an actuating unit.

13. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is formed as a positioner unit, the control electronics of which has a closed-loop control function that is a position regulation function.

14. The controller according to claim 1, wherein each working channel has an extension working channel passing through the extension module arrangement, which is fluidically connected on the extension interface, on one side, with a pneumatic extension working outlet communicating with the control valve means and, on the other side, with an extension working inlet communicating with the pneumatic main working outlet.

15. The controller according to claim 14, wherein an extension module of the extension module arrangement is designed as a diverting module diverting the extension working channel from the extension working outlet back to the extension working inlet.

16. The controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one extension module is designed as a functional module by which the pressurised air flowing in the extension module arrangement during operation of the controller can be influenced or which can in turn be influenced by this flowing pressurised air.

17. The controller according to claim 16, wherein the extension module arrangement has a plurality of functional modules arranged in series and having different functionalities wherein among the functional modules there is provided at least one module selected from the group consisting of an air treatment module and a display module and a restrictor module and an interruption module and a manual actuation module and an emergency shut-off module and a booster module and an air input module.

18. The controller according to claim 1, wherein an air input connection is provided on the carrier module and/or on the extension module arrangement, said air input connection communicating with an extension air supply channel passing through the extension module arrangement, said extension air supply channel being fluidically connected across the carrier module to the control valve means located in the control unit to supply them with pressurised air.

19. A process control device, comprising a pneumatic actuator and an electropneumatic controller for controlling the pneumatic actuator, wherein the controller comprises an actuator mounting interface by which it is mounted on the pneumatic actuator, wherein the controller further comprises an electropneumatic control unit, which contains a control electronics designed to process feedback signals of the actuator and which contains control valve means electrically actuatable by the control electronics, and wherein the controller comprises at least one working channel, which is connected to the control valve means and has a main working outlet serving to pneumatically connect to an actuating chamber of the actuator to be controlled, wherein the controller comprises a carrier module, which has a control unit interface and a separate extension interface, wherein the control unit is mounted on the control unit interface and wherein an extension module arrangement having at least one extension module is mounted on the extension interface independently of the control unit, said extension module and the carrier module arrangement being passed through by the at least one working channel.

20. The process control device according to claim 19, wherein the actuator is part of a process valve and is used to actuate a valve fitting of the process valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a side view, a preferred embodiment of the process control device according to the invention, which is equipped with a similarly preferred embodiment of an electropneumatic controller according to the invention, wherein the electric and fluidic wiring is indicated only schematically, and

(3) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement from FIG. 1 in a perspective exploded representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The process control device designated in its entirety with reference numeral 1 has a process valve 2 and an electropneumatic controller 3 installed on the process valve 2 in a preferably detachable manner.

(5) The process valve 2 has a valve fitting 4 indicated only schematically and a pneumatic actuator 5 combined with the valve fitting 4 to form an assembly.

(6) The valve fitting 4 has at least two fitting connections 6, 7 for incorporation into a pipeline and has a valve seat 12 arranged in a fitting housing 8, which is positionable in different positions in order to shut off a fluid connection between the two fitting connections 6, 7 or to releases it with variable cross-section.

(7) The pneumatic actuator 5 has an actuator housing 13 by means of which it is installed on the fitting housing 8. A movable actuating unit 14 extends in the actuator housing 13, said actuating unit being movement-coupled to the valve seat 12 and which can be prompted by pneumatic actuation of the actuator 5 into an actuating movement 15 indicated by a double arrow, by way of which the position of the valve seat 12 can be changed.

(8) By way of an example, the actuator 5 is designed as a rotary actuator in which the actuating movement 15 of the actuating unit 14 is a rotary movement. Two first and second actuating chambers 16a, 16b indicated only schematically are formed in the interior of the actuator housing 13, which are delimited in each case by an actuating piston coupled to the actuating unit 14 by means of actuator technology or belonging to the actuating unit 14 such that the actuating movement 15 can be initiated in one or another direction by a supply and discharge of pressurised air matched to one another. By setting corresponding pressure ratios in the actuating chambers 16a, 16b, the actuating unit 14 and therefore the valve seat 12 can also be positioned in any position with no graduations.

(9) According to an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, the actuator 5 can also be a linear actuator. In this case, a flat slide is generally provided as a valve seat 12, while the valve seat 12 in the exemplary embodiment is a rotary vane.

(10) An assembly interface 17 is formed on the actuator 5, in particular externally on its actuator housing 13, on which assembly interface the controller 3 is detachably installed with a mounting interface formed thereon and designated as the actuator mounting interface 18 to better distinguish it. Fastening means used for fastening such as for example fastening screws are not shown in the drawing.

(11) The controller 3 has a control unit 22 that is consistently manageable in the removed state, which is equipped with electrically actuatable control valve means 23 that can be activated by such actuation. An air supply channel 24 of the controller 3 is connected to the control valve means 23 in which pressurised air can be fed in via at least one air input connection 29 arranged on the external surface of the controller 3, said pressurised air being provided by an external pressurised air source P.

(12) The control valve means 23 are also connected to an air outlet channel 25 of the controller 3, which is drawn in FIG. 1 with a dotted line and which opens out via at least one air outlet opening 26 on an external surface of the controller 3 to the atmosphere R.

(13) While the compressed air needed to operate the actuator 5 is supplied via the air supply channel 24, air is removed from the actuator 5 by means of the air outlet channel 25. If necessary, quick venting valve means can also still be present to increase the venting flow rate.

(14) Two pneumatic working channels are also connected to the control valve means 23, which are designated as first and second working channel 27a, 27b to better distinguish them, and which are drawn in the drawing in one case as a dot-dashed line and in the other case as a dotted line to better distinguish them. Each working channel 27a, 27b passes through the controller 3 and opens out at the actuator mounting interface 18. The channel mouths of the working channels 27a, 27b located there are designed as first main working outlet 28a and as second main working outlet 28b.

(15) By way of example, the controller 3 is adapted to the actuator 5 such that the two main working outlets 28a, 28b communicate, in the state of the controller 3 fastened to the actuator mounting interface 18 on the assembly interface 17, directly with fluid channels formed in the actuator housing 13, which open into the working chambers 16a, 16b. Therefore, the fluid connection between the controller 3 and the actuator 5 can take place without any separate pipelines or hose lines. The fluid connection is automatically formed or separated again when assembling and dismantling the controller 3.

(16) According to an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, the main working outlets 28a, 28b can also be provided on the controller 3 away from the actuator mounting interface 18 such that they are connected fluidically to the actuator 5 with suitable pipelines or hose lines independently of the fastening of the controller 3.

(17) The control unit 22 has a control unit housing 32 which encloses a receiving space 33 in a manner shielded from the environment. The control valve means 23 and also a control electronics 34 connected by actuation technology to the control valve means 23 are located in the receiving space 33. The control electronics 34 provides electrical control signals for the control valve means 23 to specify their operating status. Depending on the operating status currently set out, the control valve means 23 provide a fluid connection of one or both working channels 27a, 27b to either the air supply channel 24 or the air outlet channel 25 or they separate both working channels 27a, 27b both from the air supply channel 24 and the air outlet channel 25. In this way, pressurised air can be fed into each working chamber 16a, 16b or removed from each working chamber 16a, 16b and it is also possible to lock the pressurised air in the working chambers 16a, 16b. In this way the actuating movement 15 can be initiated in one direction or the other or be stopped at any point.

(18) The control valve means 23 of the exemplary embodiment are designed as proportional valve means and consequently permit a constant change in the flow cross section that is released or shut off. By way of an example, the control valve means 23 have a 5/3 valve function.

(19) An alternative embodiment of the control valve means 23 (not shown) contains several switching valves that can be actuated in a pulse width modulated manner.

(20) The control valve means 23 can for example be designed as magnetic valve means or as piezo valve means for their electrical activation ability. They can be directly electrically actuated but are preferably of an electropneumatically pre-controlled construction type in line with the exemplary embodiment. Electrically actuatable pre-control valve means in the control valve means 23 can for example be designed as e/p converters according to the nozzle-deflecting plate principle.

(21) The control electronics 34 expediently has a closed-loop control functionality, which is the case in the exemplary embodiment. This makes regulated operation of the actuator 5 possible, in particular operation in which the position is regulated. In this case, the control unit 22 also represents a positioner unit 23b that can also be called a positioner.

(22) The control electronics 34 has a set value input 35, by means of which set value signals can be supplied externally, which correspond to the desired set position of the valve seat 12. In order to do this, the set value input 35 is connected to an external electronic controller (not shown).

(23) The knowledge of the actual position of the valve seat 12 needed to regulate the position is created for the control electronics 34 in the form of feedback means 36 that cooperate with the actuator 5 and more precisely with its actuating unit 14 and are connected to a feedback signal input 37 of the control electronics 34. The feedback means 36 are able to provide continuous position information on the actuating unit 14 to the control electronics 34 as electrical signals. By way of example, the feedback means 36 are formed by a potentiometer device, which is actuated when the actuating unit 14 rotates. In the case of an actuator 5 formed as a linear actuator, the feedback means 36 are expediently formed by a linear displacement measuring apparatus.

(24) Depending on the result of the comparison between the set values supplied to the control electronics 34 and the actual values, the control valve means 23 are electrically actuated by the control electronics 34 to actuate the actuator 5 accordingly.

(25) In a simpler embodiment, the control electronics 34 does not have a closed-loop control function so it can only carry out unregulated actuation of the actuator 5, wherein singular sensor signals are processed in particular as feedback signals.

(26) The controller 3 also contains, aside from the control unit 22, a carrier module 38 and an extension module arrangement 39.

(27) The carrier module 38 acts as a mechanical and fluidic interface member between the control unit 22, the actuator 5 and the extension module arrangement 39. The actuator mounting interface 18 is formed on the carrier module and also has a control unit interface 42 used for fastening the control unit 22 and an extension interface 43 used for fastening the extension module arrangement 39.

(28) The extension module arrangement 39 is composed of, in principle, any number of extension modules 44, which are joined together in a preferably linear series direction 45 indicated by a dot-dashed line and fixed to one another.

(29) The extension module arrangement 39 is attached to the extension interface 43 with a module mounting interface 46 oriented in the series direction 45 and fastened detachably to the carrier module 38. The module mounting interface 46 is located in each case on the extension module 44, which is attached directly to the carrier module 38.

(30) Both the control unit 22 and the extension module arrangement 39 are preferably fastened detachably on the carrier module 38. Fastening means used for this purpose are not shown in the drawing. The fixing of the control unit 22 and the extension module arrangement 39 on the carrier module 38 takes place independently of one another.

(31) The two working channels 27a, 27b pass through both the carrier module 38 and the extension module arrangement 39. The longitudinal sections of the working channels 27a, 27b extending through the extension module arrangement 39 are designated as first extension working channel 47a and as second extension working channel 47b to better distinguish them. Each of these extension working channels 47a, 47b opens, at one end, with an input connection 48 and, at the other end, with an output connection 49 on the module mounting interface 46. Aside from the last extension module 44 opposite the carrier module 38, which ends the extension module 39 as the end module 44a, all extension modules 44 are preferably passed through twice by each extension working channel 47a, 47b and namely, by an input channel branch 52 connecting to the respective input connection 48 and an output channel branch 53 connecting to the output connection 49.

(32) The extension module 44 ending the extension module arrangement 39 as end module 44a on the side opposed to the carrier module 38 is preferably formed as a diverting module 54, in which a deflection channel section 55 of each extension working channel 47a, 47b extends, which in each case connects one of the input channel branches 52 to one of the output channel branches 53.

(33) In this way, each extension working channel 47a, 47b preferably has in total one U-shaped channel course.

(34) The carrier module 38 is passed through by two first carrier module channel sections 56a, 56b which open out with a first extension working outlet 58a and a second extension working outlet 58b on the extension interface 43 such that they communicate with in each case one of the input connections 48 of the extension module arrangement 39. These first carrier module channel sections 56a, 56b open, on the other side, with each input connection 59a, 59b on the control unit interface 42.

(35) The carrier module 38 is also passed through by two second carrier module channel sections 57a, 57b defining in each case a longitudinal section of the working channels 27a, 27b, which open out in each case via a first or second extension working inlet 62a, 62b on the extension interface 43 such that they meet with and are fluidically connected to one of the output connections 49 in each case. The second carrier module channel sections 57a, 57b open out, at the other end, forming the two main working outlets 28a, 28b on the actuator mounting interface 18.

(36) The control unit 22 has, externally on its control unit housing 32, an installation interface 63 by means of which it abuts on its control unit interface 42 in the state assembled on the carrier module 38. Longitudinal sections of the working channels 27a, 27b open out at this installation interface 63 with channel mouths 65, said longitudinal sections of the working channels are designated as first and second control unit working channels 64a, 64b and which are connected in the control unit 22 to the control valve means 23. These channel mouths 65 are placed such that they meet with and are connected to in each case one of the input connections 59a, 59b in the state of the control unit 22 assembled on the control unit interface 42 of the carrier module 38.

(37) As a result, a continuous fluid connection of the working channels 27a, 27b results between the control valve means 23 and the main working outlets 28a, 28b.

(38) In the case of the illustrated and preferred exemplary embodiment, the air supply channel 24 extends with a U-shaped longitudinal section, which is designated as extension air supply channel 66, in the extension module arrangement 39, and namely proceeding from an input connection 67 located on the module mounting interface 46 to an output connection 68 also located on this module mounting interface 46. The extension air supply channel 66 has an input channel branch 72, which extends proceeding from the input connection 67 through all extension modules 44 into the diverting module 54 where the extension air supply channel 66 is deflected via a further deflection channel section 55 and merges into an output channel branch 73 extending to the output connection 68. An air input connection 29 formed on the diverting module 54 in the case of the exemplary embodiment is expediently connected to the extension air supply channel 66 inside the diverting module 54.

(39) An air input connection 29 formed additionally or alternatively on the carrier module 38 is connected to a longitudinal section of the air supply channel 24 running in the carrier module 38, said longitudinal section of the air supply channel ends with an extension supply input 74 on the extension interface 43, which is aligned and connected to the input connection 67. As a result, pressurised air input at the carrier module 38 can be guided through the carrier module 38 such that it flows through each carrier module 38 twice, on the one hand, in the input channel branch 72 and, on the other hand, in the output channel branch 73. This provides optimal possibilities for individually using the pressurised air for functions of the controller 3 inside the extension modules 44.

(40) The connection of the air supply channel 24 to the control valve means 23 expediently takes place through a carrier module channel section 75 connected to the output connection 68 and passing through the carrier module 38, said carrier module channel section merging into a control unit channel section 76 extending in the control unit 22 to the control valve means 23 in a transition region 75a on the control unit interface 42.

(41) In the case of a simpler embodiment of the controller 3, the longitudinal section of the air input channel 24 connecting to the air input connection 29 of the carrier module 38 runs without connection to the extension module arrangement 39 directly to the control unit interface 32 in order to merge into the control unit channel section 76 there.

(42) The air outlet channel 25 already mentioned above expediently has a first channel section 25a running in the control unit 22 proceeding from the control valve means 23 to the installation interface 63, said first channel section being connected in a transition region 25c to a second channel section 25 of the air outlet channel 25 opening out at the control unit interface 42, said air outlet channel running inside the carrier module 38 to the air outlet opening 26 also formed on the carrier module 38.

(43) Deviating from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the air outlet channel 25 can also extend through the extension module arrangement 39 such that it can be used for venting functions by functional means 78 present in the extension modules 44. In a manner not shown, at least one extension module 44 can have an air outlet opening 26 connected to the air outlet channel 25 in addition or alternatively to the carrier module 38.

(44) At least one extension module 44 is expediently formed as a functional module 77, which has functional means 78 only schematically indicated which are capable of influencing the pressurised air flowing in the extension module arrangement 39 during operation of the controller 3 and/or are formed to be able to, in turn, influence pressurised air flowing through it.

(45) In the case of the exemplary embodiment, all extension modules 44 are formed as functional module 78. With respect to the diverting module 54, there is the particularity of it also acting as a functional module 77. The functional means 78 integrated into the diverting module 54 are preferably designed as air preparation means, which in particular contain a filter and/or a pressure regulator such that the diverting module 54 also represents an air treatment module 77a.

(46) The diverting module 54 can alternatively also be formed such that it only serves for pressurised air deflection inside the extension module arrangement 39 and has no separate functional means 78.

(47) If no particular functionality is desired for the extension module arrangement 39 due to a corresponding application case, all other extension modules 44 can be omitted aside from the diverting module 54. The diverting module 54 is then installed directly on the extension interface 43 as an end module 44a.

(48) Aside from the extension module 44 acting as the end module 44a, all extension modules 44 expediently have in each case a coupling interface 82 on their front surfaces opposed to one another in the series direction 45, wherein the coupling interfaces 82 are matched to one another such that the extension modules 44 can be installed on one another ensuring a mutual fluid connection, in particular in any sequence. The extension working channels 47a, 47b of the optionally present extension air supply channel 66 and, if present, a channel section of an air outlet channel 25 extending through the extension module arrangement 39 are composed of channel longitudinal sections which pass through the extension modules 44 incorporated between the carrier module 38 and the end module 44a between their two axially aligned coupling interfaces 82 and communicate with one another on the coupling interfaces 82. In addition to this are the deflection channel sections 55 of the diverting module 54 used as the end module 44a, which preferably, but not necessarily, has a coupling interface 82 only on the front surface pointing to the carrier module 38.

(49) In each case the coupling interface 82 of the extension module 44 acts as the module mounting interface 46, which is attached directly to the extension interface 43 of the carrier module 38.

(50) The extension modules 44 are preferably fastened to one another detachably and on the carrier module 38. Fastening means provided for this purpose can be formed such that in each case two extension modules 44 immediately after one another can be fixed to one another independently of the other extension modules 44, wherein the extension module 44 following the carrier module 38 is individually fixed to the carrier module 38. The fastening means can, however, also be designed such that, using said fastening means, all extension modules 44 can be fixed or are fixed together on the carrier module 38, for example by tension anchors.

(51) As already mentioned, the extension module arrangement 39 can contain any number of functional modules 77 installed next to one another in any sequence.

(52) A possible characteristic of a functional module 77 is that of an air treatment module 77a.

(53) At least one functional module 77 can be a restrictor module 77b, which is equipped with unchangeable or with settable throttle means as the functional means 78, which limit the flow.

(54) At least one functional module 77 can be an air input module 77c which has an air input connection 29. By way of example, the end module 44a also forms such an air input module 77c.

(55) At least one functional module 77 can be a booster module 77d by means of which the volume flow of the pressurised air flowing through the working channels 27a, 27b to the actuator 5 can be boosted. The booster module 77d contains, as the functional means 78, at least one booster circuit constructed from valve means, which are connected in the interior of the booster module 77d not only with extension working channels 47a, 47b, but also with the extension air supply channel 66.

(56) At least one functional module 77 can be an interruption module 77e, through which all fluid channels can be interrupted or shut off so that for example the control unit 22 can be removed, without the air supply to the controller 3 having to be shut off.

(57) At least one functional module 77 can be a manual actuation module 77f by means of which an actuation of the actuator 5 independent of the control unit 22 can be performed in the case of maintenance or construction measures. By way of example, one of the functional modules 77 is combined as the interruption module 77e and formed as manual actuation module 77f.

(58) At least one functional module 77 can be an emergency shut-off module 77g, which can receive external electric emergency shut-off signals via an electric interface 83 and initiates for example a venting operation of the actuator 5.

(59) At least one functional module 77 can be formed as a display module 77h by means of which one or a plurality of status variables of the pressurised air can be visually displayed, in particular the nominal pressure available in the air supply channel 24 and/or the working pressure available in at least one of the working channels 27a, 27b. By way of example, one of the functional modules 77 is combined as a restrictor module 77b and formed as display module 77h.

(60) The extension modules 44 are expediently formed in a block-shaped, plate-shaped or disc-shaped manner. All extension modules 44 expediently have the same contours in a plane at right angles to the series direction 45. The extension modules 44 in the series direction 45, not necessarily but preferably, have the same thickness among one another.

(61) The carrier module 38 is preferably formed in an L shape, as is the case with the exemplary embodiment. In this connection, the carrier module 38 has two first and second carrier module limbs 84, 85 aligned at right angles to one another. These two carrier module limbs 84, 85 delimit, on two sides, a receiving region 86, in which the control unit 22 fastened to the carrier module 38, is placed.

(62) The carrier module limbs 84, 85 have in each case an inner surface 84a, 85a facing the receiving region 86 and an outer surface 84b, 85b facing away from the receiving region 86 and opposed in this regard.

(63) The control unit interface 82 is provided on the two inner surfaces 84a, 85a and is expediently composed of a first interface section 42a arranged on the inner surface 84a of the first carrier module limb 84 and a second interface section 42b arranged on the inner surface 85a of the second carrier module limb 85. While the first interface section 42a is used only for the mechanical fixing of the control unit 22, the entire fluid connection between the control unit 22 and the carrier module 38 takes place via the second interface section 42b.

(64) The installation interface 63 formed on the control unit housing 32 has a first interface section 63a abutting on the first interface section 42a of the first carrier module limb 84 and a second interface section 63b abutting on the second interface section 42 of the second carrier module limb 85. The channel mouths 65 of the control unit working channels 64a, 64b and also the channel mouths, assigned to the transition regions 25c, 75a, of channel sections 76, 25a, running in the control unit 22, of the air supply channel 24 and of the air outlet channel 25 are located on this second interface section 63b.

(65) The two interface sections 63a, 63b are preferably located on two outer surface sections of the control unit housing 32 aligned at right angles to one another. The control unit 22 is for example tensioned with the carrier module 38 by means of fastening screws.

(66) The extension interface 43 serving for the installation of the extension module arrangement 39 is located on the outer surface 85b of the second carrier module limb 85. The actuator mounting interface 18 is located on the outer surface 84b of the first carrier module limb 84.

(67) Each working channel 27a, 27b passes through both the first carrier module limb 84 and the second carrier module limb 85. It extends in the first carrier module limb 84 with the two second carrier module channel sections 57a, 57b and in the second carrier module limb 85 with the two first carrier module channel sections 56a, 56b.

(68) In the case of an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, the actuator mounting interface 18 is formed by the front surface, facing away from the carrier module 38, of the extension module 44 spaced furthest from the control unit 22. In this case, the controller 3 is installed with the extension module arrangement 39 on the actuator 5 such that the working channels 27a, 27b do not have to be guided through the extension module arrangement 39 in a U shape. In the case of such a configuration, it is in any case possible in relation to an L-shaped carrier module 38 to provide the extension interface 43 on the outer surface 84b of the first carrier module limb 84. The fluid channels arranged in the carrier module 38 are in this case guided in particular such that they do not open out to the outer surface 85b of the second carrier module limb 85.

(69) The first carrier module limb 84 can, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, have a through-hole 87 through which a feedback member 88 movement-coupled to the actuating unit 14 of the actuator 5 protrudes, said feedback member interacting with the feedback means 36 of the control unit 22 to generate the feedback signals required for regulating the position.

(70) The controller 3 is, owing to the variety of possibilities of flanging together the modules belonging to it, configurable in a very variable manner.

(71) The carrier module 38 can in principle be configured in multiple parts, but preferably consists of a single-piece body.

(72) The extension modules 44 are preferably formed in plate-shaped or block-shaped manner. They expediently have a polygonal and in particular rectangular contour, but can certainly also have an at least partially round contour. The contour designates the outer contour of the extension modules 44 oriented at right angles to the series direction 45.

(73) The series direction 45 of the extension modules 44 extends, in the case of the exemplary embodiment, linearly and preferably at right angles to the surface of the extension interface 43. The series direction 45 preferably runs at a right angle to the longitudinal axis 89 of the second carrier module limb 85. If the extension module arrangement 39, according to an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, is installed on the outer surface 84b of the first carrier module limb 84, the series direction 45 preferably runs at right angles to the longitudinal axis 90 of the first carrier module limb 84.

(74) In the case of an exemplary embodiment not shown, at least one extension module 44 has, on a side surface oriented at right angles to the series direction 45, an additional interface, on which an additional module can be installed in a preferably detachable manner. The extension module arrangement 39 can, aside from the extension modules 44, also contain additional modules serving to provide additional functions, which can be installed on the additional interfaces.

(75) In the case of an exemplary embodiment also not illustrated, at least one coupling interface 82 is located on at least one extension module 44 on a side surface oriented at right angles to the series direction 45 indicated in the drawing. This provides the possibility of flanging together the extension modules 44 in a non-linear series. This allows an individual arrangement of the extension modules 44 to adapt to possibly narrowed space conditions at the usage location of the controller 3.