Circuit assembly

(54) NAME Coupling unit (56) CALLED PUBLICATIONS: GB A 2 130 440 (H05K 1/18), US A 4 306 587 (137-606),

US A 4 095 864 (339-15), FR A 2 130 843 (H05K 5/00), FR A 2 504 610 * (F15C 5/00), JP A2 59 109 911 ** (G05B 19/4) * - corresponds to US A 4 469 128 (137-554), ** - corresponds to US A 4,512,362 (137-356) (57) SUMMARY:

A coupling unit has a mounting block (1) with two rows of cutting surfaces for connection of valve-like building elements (2). A distributor plate (4) is mounted on one end (3) of the mounting block and has continuous feed and working channels (19, 20) for feeding the building elements and supplying consumers respectively. An electronics circuit board (5) is in electrical plug connection with the individual building elements (2) via contact halves (10,11). The distributor plate (4) together with a support plate mounted on the second end of the mounting block (1) forms a double T-shaped device. The building elements (2) project in opposite directions from the mounting block (1) between the distributor plate (4) and the holder plate, in front of which there is a front plate (33) with actuator (34) for the building elements (2). The electronics circuit board (5) is parallel to and firmly connected to the dual T-shaped device, the projecting contact halves (10) of the electronics circuit board (5) cooperating releasably with the downward contact halves (11) on the building elements (2).

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The numbers in brackets indicate international identification code, INID code. Letters in clamps indicate international document code.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a coupling unit with a mounting block, which has two rows in line with one another arranged for fluid connection of electromagnetically actuated valve-like building elements, and a distributor plate arranged on one of the two ends of the mounting block, which has at least one through-feed a printing medium for the building elements and several continuous working channels for supplying consumers; the channels, on the one hand, opening into openings on the distributor plate away from the facing end side of the mounting block and on the other communicating with connecting channels extending into the fitting block, and on the other hand an electronics circuit board, which is removably connected, as contact terminals and contact pins, formed in contact terminals and contact pins. electrical plug-in connection with the individual building elements.

A similar coupling unit is known from GB-A-2 130 440. The coupling unit according to this publication has a first coupling circuit board with a platform-mounted mounting block, on the upper side of which a longitudinally extending contact housing is centrally mounted. On either side of this housing there are a number of cutting sites or surfaces on the top of the plate for fluid, electromagnetically operable building elements, such as valves. In each cutting surface, a feeder duct and a working duct open, the ducts extending into the interior of the mounting block and leading to one of the ends of the mounting block, on which a distributor plate with through channels designated as contact strip or plate is mounted. On the inside of each building element, there are two contact halves designed as contact pins, which in the mounted state engage with complementary contact halves on the housing. Signal cables are soldered to the contact halves on the housing side, which are located in the housing and are connected to a cen458 249 via a plug socket in the area of ​​the distributor plate. This central cable may extend to a further, largely electronic building element's supporting circuit board, hereinafter referred to as electronics circuit board, which together with the above described fluid circuit board may be installed in a card receiving housing.

The following points in the coupling unit according to GB-A-2 130 440 are disadvantageous:

Firstly, the additional necessary electronics circuit board may be completely separate and must therefore be handled in a cumbersome manner separately during assembly and / or disassembly of the housing.

Second, the separate design of the electronics circuit board possibly required requires a complicated and expensive connection cable to bridge the large distance between the electronics circuit board and the building elements. In addition, an extra central cable and cable connection are required, and complicated soldering work must be done in the connection housing to connect the individual cables in the central cable in a contact-safe manner.

Thirdly, in the connected state, the central cable protrudes far from the front of the house, which makes it difficult to understand and is space-intensive.

Fourth, the coupling unit is relatively high across the plate plane, since the plate-shaped mounting block is relatively thick to accommodate the channels. The electronics circuit board, which is also necessary at a great distance from the house, further increases the building height.

Fifth and last, the connections for the pressure medium lines to be connected to the distributor plate are on the front of the coupling unit, so that for removing the coupling unit from a housing, all hoses must be removed manually to prevent breakage or the like. As a result, when the connection is renewed, interfering confusion and faulty connections can also occur. The object of the invention is to improve a switching unit of it initially

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458 249 in such a way that it can be manufactured at a price that is more competitive, that it can be made compact and that it significantly simplifies handling.

This task is solved by the mounting block extending centrally in the longitudinal direction of the coupling unit, the distributor plate being mounted on the rear side of the mounting block and a holding plate on its opposite front side, forming a double T-shaped device, extending the two rows of cutting surfaces in double or parallel to it. The plane of the T-shaped device in the longitudinal direction of the mounting block and arranged on two opposite side surfaces of the mounting block, wherein the building elements arranged on the two rows project in mutually opposite directions from the mounting block, that there is a front plate in front and at a parallel distance from the holder plate, which includes, for example, push buttons for manual activation of the building elements, that the electronic circuit board is arranged parallel to the double T the plane of the shaped device and is firmly connected thereto, whereby they are arranged on the facing side of the electronics circuit board facing the mounting block; the direct electrical connection projecting halves releasably cooperate with the contact halves directed downwards on the electronics circuit board, and the electronics circuit board contact halves are electrically connected to a joint connector which is electrically connected to the distributor plate facing the distributor plate .

Thereby, the following benefits are achieved:

The power supply for the building elements takes place directly via the electronics circuit board and the contact halves, thereby avoiding the expensive and complicated insertion of a cabling to be soldered in place.

The electronics circuit board is fixedly mounted on the double plate T-shaped device consisting of holder plate, mounting block and distributor plate, so that joint handling takes place. This greatly simplifies assembly and disassembly in the case of a switch cabinet.

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The double T-shaped device enables mounting in a junction box in a manner where the distributor plate together with the electrical connector plug is turned into the housing, while providing a protective enclosure of the entire coupling unit in the opposite direction, the holder plate and the front plate. This prevents cables or hoses from sticking out, which could be accidentally pulled off. Also, no separate wiring of hoses or cables is required during disassembly, as the connections in the distributor plate and the plug on the electronics circuit board are facing the back and can easily co-operate with a complementary connection possibility that exists in a switch cabinet.

Since the mounting block is now no longer a base plate of the coupling unit, but instead an elongated block on which the building elements are located on the side and which at the same time have the channels extending to the cutting surfaces, a significantly lower height is obtained across the main plane of the coupling unit. Compared to GB-A-2 130 440, the entire thickness of the existing platform mounting block is saved.

The electronics circuit board can be located significantly closer to the mounting block, whereby the electrical connections are substantially shorter.

By means of the conveniently arranged contact halves, the electronics circuit board can be replaced quickly if necessary without the need for electrical connections by hand and without the need to remove the building elements.

By means of the double T-shaped device, the coupling unit is a building with high rigidity and the pneumatic components are protected in a recess, which is limited at the rear by the distributor plate, at the front of the holder plate and the front plate and underfill of the electronic circuit board.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top view of the coupling unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the coupling unit according to the invention;

458 Fig. 249 shows the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows the coupling unit according to the invention from the front in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 shows the coupling unit according to the invention from behind in the direction C in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the coupling unit according to the invention has essentially a parallelepipedic mounting block 1_y a distributor plate 4, an electronic circuit board 5, a front plate 33 and fluidic building elements 2, for example valves.

The mounting block 1 has a parallelepipedic shape and has two longitudinally extending row of cutting faces 12, each of which is longitudinally extending, with each of the building elements 2.

On one of the ends 3 of the mounting block 1, the distributor plate 4 is arranged. It is connected to the end 3 in the middle region of one of its surfaces 47, so that the distributor plate 4 and the mounting block 1 together form the shape of a T. The distributor plate 4 has internally a number of connecting channels which open on the surface facing away from the mounting block 1 and opposite the surface 47 located the end face 48 of the distributor plate 4. The connecting channels consist of at least one feeder channel 19 for supplying a print medium and several working channels 20 for removing the print medium for supplying consumers. The ducts 19 and 20 also open with their other ends on the surface 47 in the area of ​​the gable 3 of the mounting block 1 and pass directly therein.

The mounting block 1 also has internal connecting channels, so that the feeder channel 19 at the interface between the surface 47 and the gable 3 transitions into a feeder connection channel 21 in the mounting block 1 and the working channels 20 in the same interface transition into working connection channels 22 in the mounting block 1. The channels 21, 22 are so drawn in the mounting block 1 that the feed connection channel 21 opens into each of the cutter surfaces 12 and in addition, each of its working connection channel 22 opens into the cutter surfaces 12. The individual cutter surfaces 12 are thus connected to each other independently of the working connection 22. a common feed connection channel 21.

The orifices of the channels 19 and 20 on the end side 48 of the distributor plate (feeder channel orifice 23, working channel orifice)

24) is preferably aligned with one another and is at the same distance from a corner edge 49 of the distributor plate 4. On the orifices 23, 24 a sealing strip 25 is fixedly flanged, by means of which a further, not shown building element, wires or the like can be mounted on the distributor plate 4. without creating leakage at the transition to channels 19 and 20. The sealing strip 25 consists of a rubber-like material and has a sealing strip 50 with two opposite rows 26 ', 27' of connecting jaws 26, 27. The connecting jaws 26, 27 are in pairs coaxially opposite each other and have a common central bore 28 in pairs. axial direction. The number of connecting jaws to 20 corresponds to the number of orifices 23, per connecting row 26 ', 27', from the connecting channels in the distributor plate 4.

In the region of the orifices 23, 24, the channels 19, 20 are widened at least corresponding to the length of the connecting jaws, the diameter of the widening approximately corresponding to the outer diameter of the jaws. The individual bumps 26 in the row 26 'are pressed so far into the extensions 51 that the sealing strip 50 with its entire surface abuts against the end side 48. The connecting studs 26, 27 have on their outer circumference 29 in the region of their free ends 30, 30 'each their sealing bead 31, which extends slightly outside the outer circumference of the studs. Thus, in the area of ​​the contact surfaces of the sealing beads 31 against the extensions 51 of the channels 19, 20, an optimal sealing effect is obtained. The entire sealing strip consists of rubber-like material, for example plastic material, so that it can always be pushed into or pulled out of the extensions 51 any number of times.

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The precise drawing of the feed connection channel 21, the working connection channels 22, the feed channel 19 and the working channels 20 is only roughly outlined in the drawings and not shown in detail. In principle, however, the passage or drawing of the channels is such that a separate duct system 22, 20 transitions into an orifice 24 per cutter surface 12, however, starting from the orifice 23, each cutter surface 12 is provided with a printing medium via the common duct system 19, 21.

Each cutting surface 12 is fitted with a building element 2, for example a valve, by means of which the supply of a pressure medium to consumers connected to the studs 27 can be controlled. The building elements are removably mounted on the cutting surfaces 12 by means of fasteners 13, for example screws.

Parallel to one of the unmounted side surfaces 8 of the mounting block 1, the electronics circuit board 5 is arranged so that its surface extends perpendicular to the embedded side surfaces 6 and 7. Thus, the plane of the circuit board 5 lies parallel to the plane of the above-described the distributor plate and mounting block 1 formed the T; Each building element 2 has on its side surface 52 facing the circuit board at least one contact pin 11 which engages with an associated contact terminal 10 on the upper side of the circuit board 5

9th The contact terminals 10 are attached to the circuit board 5 for example by soldering. They consist of a resilient material, for example a spring steel, and comprise two clamping tongues 14, 14 'which are pressed against each other, which are directed against the building elements 2 and between which the contact pins 11 are inserted. The individual contact terminals are located on their circuit board via their attachment points 53 and are connected via a circuit board 15, not shown in detail, to a junction connector 15, a so-called multi-pole contact. Each building element 2 is thus connected via a contact pin 11, a contact terminal 10 and the circuit board 5 to a pin or

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249 a pole on the connector plug 15. The connector connector 15 is positioned on the circuit board 5 in the region of its end 17 facing in the direction of the distributor plate 4 and thus extends in the same direction as the sealing insert 25. The assembly of the connector plug 15 on the circuit board 5 is conveniently carried out via an intermediate connector 54, for example, an angle.

On the front side 39 of the front face 39 of the mounting block 1, a holder plate 38 is removably mounted, for example by means of screws not shown, the plane of the holder plate 38 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the mounting block 1 and parallel to the plane of the distributor plate 4. The distributor plate 4, the mounting block 38 thus forms a device in the form of a double T. At a parallel distance from the holder plate 38, there is a front plate 33 which is fixed by means between the holder plate 38 and the front plate 33 inserted spacers 37. The spacers are fixed in pairs in the region of the free ends 55 of the holder plate and in its middle region each has its ring groove 43. Between, the holder plate 38 and the front plate 33 is a circuit board 40 inserted at a parallel distance from both the holder plate 38 and the front plate 33. The coupling circuit board 40 is fixed in that its boundary edges 56 directed toward the free ends 55 are locked in the ring grooves 43 of the spacers 37. On the coupling circuit board there is a printed circuit which is electrically connected to the electronic circuit board 5. The electrical connection has been provided by the end 57 of the electronics circuit board 5 located at the opposite end 17 of the electronics circuit board 5 in which plugs 45 are plugged which are positioned on the coupling circuit board 40 in the region of its end facing the electronics circuit board 5. and which are electrically connected to the printed circuit on the circuit board 40.

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On the side 41 of the coupling circuit board 40 facing away from the mounting block 1, push buttons 34 and light elements 35, for example LEDs, are provided which protrude from the circuit board 40. The number of buttons 5 and light elements correspond respectively to the number of cutting surfaces 12. The front plate 33 has holes 42 and 58 corresponding to the arrangement of the buttons 34 and the light elements 35 on the switching circuit board 40, the dimensions of which are approximately similar to those of the buttons 34 and the light elements 35. The arrangement of the circuit board 40 relative to the front plate 33 is such that the buttons 34 extend through the holes 42 and the light elements 35 through the holes 58 and protrude slightly from the face 59 of the face plate 33 from the mounting block 1 (see also Fig. 3).

The holder plate 38, the spacers 37 and the front plate are held together by a fastener 60, for example a screw. For this purpose, the holder plate 38 and the front plate 33 are provided with suitable holes, not shown, while the spacers 37 have a coaxial through bore, the diameter of which at least corresponds to the diameter of the fastener. According to the arrangement described above of the spacers 37 in the region of the free ends 55 of the holding plate 38, the fasteners 60 are also arranged in pairs; their length is so chosen that they protrude from page 59 and are screwed together with a handle 36. The holder plate

38, the connector circuit board 40 and the front plate 33 thus together form a front portion 32 which is held together by the fasteners 60 and the handles 36. Each handle 36 is U-shaped and has at its free end an inner thread 61, in which the respective fasteners 60 are screwed.

For fixing the electronic circuit board 5, this is mounted on the distributor plate 4 by means of fasteners 18, for example screws. In the area of ​​the front portion 32, the fixation of the electronic circuit board 5 is taken over by the connection between the socket strip 46 and the plugs 5, so that a special fixation can be ignored here.

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In Fig. 4, it is once again clarified that the coupling unit likes very well to be used as an insertion element in extension compartment-like devices. The device is very compact, and both the pneumatic and electrical connections are in the region of the back side 48. In addition, both the sealing strip 25 and the connector plug 15 are designed as so-called multi-pole connections, in which the various individual connections are compactly joined.

For fixing in a pull-out compartment 33 the front plate 33 according to Figures 3 and 4 is provided in the area of ​​the handles 36 with breakthrough 62, through which fasteners, for example screws can be inserted for detachable mounting of the coupling unit on a pull-out compartment via the front plate 33.

For the sake of clarity, some of the cutter surfaces 12 are shown as non-cut in Figures 1 and 2. Of course, according to the task of the coupling unit, all the cutting surfaces 12 can be fitted with building elements or even only some of them.

The cutting surfaces 12 are arranged in rows aligned with one another on the mounting block 1 according to Fig. 1, the direction of the rows being indicated by the arrow 63. These aligned rows of cutting surfaces 12, ie also the building elements 2, are arranged parallel to the electronic circuit board 5, when mounted on the cutting surfaces 12.

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