CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A control device having a plurality of modular control sections (12a-12d), which form a control block when arranged beside one another and have units of an electromagnetically actuatable actuator system and/or of a sensor system for controlling or monitoring a valve apparatus, which are connected to a central energy supply and/or monitoring device, which have individual connection parts (20a-20d) assigned to the particular control section (12a-12d), and which are connected in series and to one another, is characterized in that at least some of the connection parts (20a-20d) used are wirelessly in direct engagement with one another by way of the plug parts (22a-22c) and socket parts (24a-24c) thereof which face one another and are adjacent to one another.

Claims

1. A control device with a plurality of modular control sections (12a-12d) which, when arranged side-by-side, form a control block, and which are provided with units of an electromechanically operable actuator system and/or a sensor system for the control and monitoring respectively of a valve device, which are connected to a central power supply and/or monitoring facility, and which are provided with individual connector parts (20a-20d) that are assigned to the respective control section (12a-12d) and which are connected to each other in series, characterized in that at least part of the connector parts (20a-20d) used are in direct wireless engagement with their adjacently located plug (22a-22c) and socket parts (24a-24c) that face each other.

2. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the connector parts (20a-20d) used are T-shaped, with each other facing plug (22a-22c) and socket parts (24a-24c) and a contact part (26a-26c), which is arranged transverse and preferably vertical to said plug and socket parts, for connection to the respective control section (12a-12d).

3. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the T-shaped connector parts (20a-20d) that are joined to each other form, together with their joined plug (22a-22c) and socket parts (24a-24c), a connector rail (54) that extends transverse, preferably perpendicular, to the side-by-side arrangement of the control sections (12a-12d), wherein said connector rail (54) is connected to the contact parts (26a-26c), which are aligned in the direction (B) of the control sections (12a-12d), and wherein preferably the group of individual parts is fastened through latching or screw connections in the direction (A) of the connector rail (54) and in the orientation (B) of the contact parts (26a-26c) attached to the respective control section (12a-12d).

4. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, provided for position-fixing of the connector parts (20a-20d), which are attached to each other and/or are connected to the respective control section (12a-12d), are latching means, preferably in the form of at least one latching part (34a-34c, 40, 40a), which engages with an associated counterpart on the other connector part (20a-20c) or the respective control section part (28a) respectively.

5. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective connector part (20a-20d) and/or the respective control section part (28a) is provided, in at least one joining region, with an enlargement (30, 30a-30c) compared to the cross-section of the connector (20a-20d) part or control section part (28a), and is provided in the region of the enlarged part (30, 30a-30c) with a seat (32, 32a-32c, 44a) or a latching part (38a-38c, 42, 42a) with a catch pointing to the inside, wherein a corresponding latching part (34a-34c, 40, 40a) is formed with a catch (38a-38c, 42, 42a) or a seat (32, 32a-32c, 44a) that points to the outside in the socket part (24a-24c), plug part (22a-22c), contact part (26a-26c) or control section part (28a) that is associated with the joining region, wherein said seat engages with the respective seat (32, 32a-32c, 44a) or the respective catch (38a-38c, 42, 42a) when pushing the plug (22a-22c) and socket part (24a-24c) or control section (28a) and contact part (26a-26c) respectively together.

6. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more, preferably eight, plug elements (36, 36a-36c) in the plug part (22a-22c), socket elements (60a) in the socket part (24a-24c) and contact elements (46, 46a-46c) in the contact part (26a-26c) are shaped and disposed, wherein the plug (36, 36a-36c), socket (60a) and contact elements (46, 46a-46c) are interconnected to form the required circuit.

7. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interconnection of the respective connector part (20a-20d) provides for: a supply voltage (UV), preferably via one or two plug elements (36, 36a-36c) and one or two socket elements (60a), which are connected in pairs to each other as well as with a contact element (46, 46a-46c), and/or an earth connection (GND), preferably via one or two plug elements (36, 36a-36c) and one or two socket elements (60a), which are connected in pairs to each other as well as with a contact element (46, 46a-46c), and/or an earth connection for sensors (GNDA), preferably via one plug element (36, 36a-36c) and one socket element (60a), which are connected in pairs to each other as well as with a contact element (46, 46a-46c), and/or a CAN bus control connection (CANH, CANL), preferably via one or two plug elements (36, 36a-36c) and one or two socket elements (60a), which are connected in pairs to each other as well as with a contact element (46, 46a-46c), and/or an identifier (Ident), preferably via one plug element (36, 36a-36c) and one socket element (60a), each of which is connected to a contact element (46, 46a-46c), and/or a control voltage connection (US), preferably via one plug element (36, 36a-36c) or one socket element (60a), which is connected to a contact element (46, 46a-46c).

8. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector parts (20a-20d) that are attached to each other may be connected via at least one connector plug (50) to the central power supply and/or monitoring device, wherein a connector plug (50) is preferably provided at one end of the connector parts (20a-20d) that are attached to each other, and at the other end of the connector parts (20a-20d) that are attached to each other a terminating plug (52), which is preferably provided with a terminating resistor for the CAN network.

9. A valve device with a plurality of modular valve sections, which form a valve block in a side-by-side arrangement, with a control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one control section is assigned to each valve section, and wherein the valve sections may be controlled and monitored independently from each other via the control sections.

10. The valve device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device extends parallel, preferably lateral, to the valve device and is attached to the same, and that actuating facilities in particular are provided at the valve sections for the individual valves.

Description

[0020] Further advantages and characteristics of the invention become apparent from the figures and the subsequent description of the drawing. The above described and the following characteristics may be implemented individually or in arbitrary combinations on a control device according to the invention or a valve device according to the invention. The characteristics shown are purely schematic and not to scale. Shown are in:

[0021] FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a control device according to the invention comprising a plurality of control sections with connector parts attached thereto;

[0022] FIG. 2 in perspective view and separated from each other the connector parts including connector plug and terminating plug to form a connector rail, as well as a control section part to provide a connection to a corresponding control section;

[0023] FIG. 3 an enlarged cross-section to illustrate the joining of two connector parts to each other and to a control section part each;

[0024] FIG. 4a a plan view from the top onto a connector part of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0025] FIG. 4b a longitudinal cross-section through the connector part shown in

[0026] FIG. 4a to illustrate the interconnection inside the connector part;

[0027] FIG. 5 a circuit diagram for the interconnection in the respective connector part; and

[0028] FIG. 6 an exemplary embodiment of a valve device according to the invention with a control device attached thereto.

[0029] FIG. 1 depicts in perspective view a control device 10 with four control sections 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, which are arranged side-by-side and thus form a control block. It is of course evident that control sections 12a to 12d can be arranged side-by-side in any required number. In the exemplary embodiment shown the control sections 12a to 12d are all of the same design with a first housing part 14a to 14d, which in the depiction of FIG. 1 is shown at the top, and a second housing part 16a to 16d, which in the depiction of FIG. 1 is shown at the bottom, which comprise units of an electromagnetically operable actuator system and/or a sensor system.

[0030] Each of the control sections 12a to 12d, which is assembled from a first housing part 14a to 14d and a second housing part 16a to 16d, has a U-shaped design, wherein said U-shape defines the installation space. Disposed in said installation space are the connector parts 20a to 20d, each of which is attached with its upper end to the first housing part 14a to 14d of a control section 12a to 12d, whereas the lower end is free and unattached. The connector parts 22a to 22d are designed in a T-shape, comprising a plug part 22a, a socket part 24a and a contact part 26a. Via the plug parts 22a and the socket parts 24a the connector parts 20a to 20d are directly engaged with each other and form a daisy chain along a direction A.

[0031] Each of the connector parts 20a to 20d is connected to a control section part 28a of a control section 12a to 12d via the contact parts 26a and is detachably joined to the same. The control sections 12a to 12d are aligned in a further direction B, which extends vertical to direction A. Accordingly, the connection via the contact parts 26a of the individual connector parts 20a to 20d at the respective control section part 28a is aligned along the further direction B. It is evident that the two directions A, B may be aligned at an angle to each other that differs from 90.

[0032] The plug parts 22a, 22b, the socket parts 24a and the contact parts 26a of the individual connector parts 20a to 20d have an essentially rectangular cross-section, wherein the plug part 22a, 22b is provided with an enlargement 30a, 30b that has an increased cross-section compared to the plug part 22a, 22b. Formed onto the enlargements 30a, 30b each are two seats 32a, 32b that point towards the inside and which are disposed on two opposing inner sides, shown in the representation of FIG. 1 top and bottom, of the enlargement 30a, 30b. The seats 32a, 32b serve as a clip connection with a latching part 34a of the next connector part 20a, as is shown in the clip connection of the first latching part 34a of the first connector part 20a with the second seat 32b, which is formed in the enlargement 30b of the second connector part 20b.

[0033] FIG. 2 depicts in perspective three connector parts 20a, 20b, 20c, the control section part 28a as well as a connector plug 50 and a terminating plug 52. The individual components are represented separately from each other but correspond to their arrangement in a later installation position to each other. The connecting plug 50, the connector parts 20a to 20c and the terminating plug 52 form a connector rail 54 that extends along the direction A. The control section part 28a may be connected along the further direction B to the first connector part 20a.

[0034] Arranged on the plug parts 22a to 22c are eight plug elements 36a to 36c each in two rows adjacent to each other, although only four plug elements 36a to 36c are visible on each respective plug part 22a to 22c in the illustration of FIG. 2. The socket elements formed in the socket parts 24a to 24c are obscured. To connect the socket elements of the socket part 24c of the third connector part 20c, plug elements 36 are provided on the terminating plug 52 and, correspondingly, socket elements that are obscured in the connector plug 50 in the illustration of FIG. 2 are provided for connecting the plug elements 36a on the plug part 22a of the first connector part 20a.

[0035] Eight contact elements 46, 46a to 46c each are disposed in two rows at the upper ends of the connector parts 20a to 20c and the control section part 28a. A resistor (not shown) is disposed in the terminating plug 52 for a CAN network. The connector plug 50 is provided with a connection opening 56 to which a corresponding cable for the supply of the connector rail 54 may be connected. The connector rail 54 serves not only to provide power but also to transmit data of the directional control valve operation of an electrohydraulic valve in a respective control section 12a to 12d (cf. FIG. 1).

[0036] To secure the mechanical attachment between the connector parts 20a to 20c as well as with the connector plug 50, the terminating plug 52 and the control section part 28a, clip connections are provided along both directions A and B. Each of the connector parts 20a to 20c is provided on the plug part 22a to 22c as well as on the terminating plug 52 with an enlargement 30, 30a to 30c compared to the cross-sectional shape defined by the respective part. Each enlargement 30, 30a to 30c is shaped in the likeness of a hollow profile section with enlargement parts 58, 58a to 58c, each of which is provided with a seat 32, 32a to 32c that faces to the inside. In a comparable manner the housing of the control section part 28a is enlarged compared to the cross-section of the associated contact part 48a of the first connector part 20a and is provided with further seats 44a.

[0037] The latching part that corresponds to the respective seat 30, 30a to 30c, 44a is formed on the respective other part of the joining region, that is, latching parts 34a to 34c at the socket parts 24a to 24c of the connector parts 20a to 20c as well as further latching parts 40, 40a to 40c at the connector plug 50 as well as on the contact parts 26a to 26c of the connector parts 20a to 20c. In the illustration of FIG. 2 the latching parts that are formed on the second, upper side of the socket parts 24a to 24c are missing. The latching parts 34a to 34c, 40, 40a to 40c are made to be elastic and are pivoted with one end on the corresponding part, and each is provided with a catch 38a to 38c and a further catch 42, 42a to 42c respectively.

[0038] Depending on the application of the control device 10 (cf. FIG. 1) the housings of the individual components 20a to 20d, 50, 52 as well as the control sections 12a to 12d (cf. FIG. 1) and the control section parts 28a are made from plastic, metal and/or a suitable compound material. In the end section of the contact parts 26a to 26c, the socket parts 24a to 24c as well as the connector plug 50, which are assigned to the respective joining region, a sealing device 48, 48a to 48c is disposed, which is made from an elastomeric material and has two parallel extending sealing beads. The terminating parts [sic] 20a to 20d shown in the exemplary embodiment of

[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 are all of the same design. Nevertheless, different designs and combinations of connector parts of different kinds along the connector rail 54 are conceivable.

[0040] In cross-section and enlarged, FIG. 3 depicts the joining region between the first connector part 20a and the second connector part 20b. At the contact area between the socket part 24a and the plug part 22b the plug elements 36b are inserted into socket elements (not shown in detail) of the socket part 24a. The cross-section of FIG. 3 depicts one of the two rows comprising four plug elements 36b each. The seal 48a is inserted into a circumferential groove in the socket part 24a and is pressed with both its sealing beads against plug part 22b. The enlargement 30b adjoins the section of the plug part 22b where the seal 48a makes contact. The enlargement 30b encompasses the latching part 34a, formed on the socket part 24a, in such a way that the catch 38a, which is formed on the latching part 34a, engages with the seat 32b, which is formed in the enlargement 30b, and thus fixes the position of the two connector parts 20a, 20b to each other.

[0041] To release the bond of the two connector parts 20a, 20b, the latching part 34a is moved towards the socket part 24a, which moves the catch 38a out of the seat 32b, so that both connector parts 20a, 20b can be separated and released from each other again. In providing comparable latch attachments, FIG. 3 depicts the enlargement 30a on plug part 22a and the latching part 34b on connector part 20. The T-shaped connector parts 20a, 20b are attached via their contact parts 26a, 26b to the control section parts 28a, 28b of the control sections 12a to 12d (cf. FIG. 1), where a corresponding latch attachment is provided.

[0042] In contrast to the horizontally oriented latching parts 34a, 34b depicted in FIG. 3, the further latching parts 40a, 40b, formed on contact parts 26a, 26b, are oriented vertically and are pivoted with their upper end at the respective contact part 26a, 26b. The outward-directed further catch 42b engages with a further seat 44b, which is formed on the control section part 28b. The latched attachment may be released in that the further latching part 40b is moved in the direction of the contact part 26b and the control section part 28b is separated from the connector part 20b.

[0043] From the plan view of FIG. 4a it becomes apparent that the connector part 20a is comprised of the plug part 22a with the enlargement 30a and the enlargement part 58a, the socket part 24a with a seal 48a and the contact part 26a with the further latching part 40a and the further catch 42a as well as the seal 48a. The joining surface of the contact part 26a, which has a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, is provided with eight contact elements 46a, which are arranged in two rows with four contact elements 46a each. The depiction of FIG. 4a shows the individual contact elements 46a with consecutive numbers.

[0044] It is apparent from the cross-section along the line A-A in FIG. 4b that the connector part 20a is block-shaped, wherein the plug elements 36a, the contact elements 46a and the socket elements 60a are connected to each other through conductor 62a and are interconnected as required (cf. FIG. 5). Moreover, the enlargement parts 58a on the enlargement 30a, the seal 48a on contact part 26a and on the socket part 24a as well as the two latching parts 34a, 40a, each with outward-oriented catches 38a, 42a, are clearly recognizable in the depiction of FIG. 4b.

[0045] The circuit diagram in FIG. 5 shows how the eight plug elements 36a, arranged on plug part 22a, are connected with the eight contact elements 46a, formed on contact part 26a, and the eight socket elements 60a formed on socket part 24a. The plug parts 26a, the socket parts 60a and the contact elements 46a, which are designated with the numbers 1 and 8 [sic] are interconnected and form a CAN bus control circuit comprised of a CAN.sub.H connection at number 1 and a CAN.sub.L connection at number 8. The plug parts 36a and the socket elements 60a, which are designated with the number 2, are connected to the contact element 46a with the number 3, forming the earth connection GND.sub.A for a sensor system. The contact element 46a designated with the number 2 is not used in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5, but it may be used as a connection for a control voltage U.sub.S (not shown). H is the abbreviation for High and L for Low.

[0046] The plug elements 36a and the socket elements 60a designated with the number 7 are connected independently from each other to the contact elements 46a designated with the numbers 6 and 7, wherein each forms an identifier Ident for the position detection of the individual control sections 12a to 12d (cf. FIG. 1) in the valve block. The plug elements 36a and the socket elements 60a designated with the number 3 and 6 are connected together via a common conductor with the contact element 46a designated with the number 5 and form a double earth connection GND. In a comparable manner the plug elements 36a and the socket elements 60a designated with the numbers 4 and 5 are connected together via a common conductor with the contact element 46a designated with the number 4 and form a double power supply connection U.sub.V.

[0047] It is evident that the plug elements 36a, the socket elements 60a and the contact elements 46a may be formed and arranged in a number other than eight on the respective part 22a, 26a and 24a. The interconnections can be made as required and may differ from the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows in perspective view a valve device 64 with a total of five valve sections 66, 66a, 66b, 66c, one of which is obscured in the representation of FIG. 6. The valve sections 66, 66a-66c define with their cuboid shape the space required for individual valves and form overall in a side-by-side arrangement a valve block. A control device 10, comparable to that depicted in FIG. 1, is provided for the control and monitoring of the valve device 64 and is disposed on the side of the valve block. One control section 12a to 12d is assigned and individually connected to each valve section 66a-66c. A further valve section 66, which is arranged in the representation of FIG. 6 on the left, adjacent to the first valve section 66a, is shown without separate control section. It is conceivable to arrange an additional control section to the left of the first control section 12a and to attach it to the first control section 12a and to connect it to the further valve section 66.

[0049] The valve sections 66, 66a-66c of the valve device 64 can be individually controlled and monitored via the connector rail 54, which is formed by the individual connector parts 20a to 20d. To this end the individual control sections 12a to 12d are provided with an electromagnetically operable actuator system and/or sensor system (not shown). The individual valve sections 66, 66a-66c of the valve block and the individual control sections 12a to 12d of the control block of the control device 10 may be individually manufactured, stored and/or sold. The modular design of the valve device 64 with the control device 10 makes it possible to assemble individual and application-specific designs of the valve block of the valve device 64 for different industrial applications.