Pneumatic control device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pneumatic control device (1), the pneumatic control device having a bus node (2), the bus node being equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8); the pneumatic control device having a coupling module (11), the coupling module being equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8), and being equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9); and the pneumatic control device having a valve module (35), the valve module being equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9) at two coupling surfaces (36, 37), respectively. According to the present invention, a connection module (54; 64) is connected in series adjacent to the valve module (35), the connection module being equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9) at a first coupling surface (55; 65), and the connection module being equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8) at a second coupling surface (56; 66) so as to realize coupling of another coupling module (11) with another valve module (35).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pneumatic control device, which has a bus node, which is equipped with a first communication interface and a first power supply interface at a coupling surface; the pneumatic control device has a coupling module, which is equipped with a first communication interface and a first power supply interface at a first coupling surface, and is equipped with a second communication interface and a second power supply interface at a second coupling surface; and the pneumatic control device has a valve module, which is equipped with a second communication interface and a second power supply interface at a first coupling surface and at a second coupling surface, respectively, wherein the coupling module is connected in series to the bus node, and wherein the valve module is connected in series to the coupling module. Background Art

[0002] DE 10 2016 213 725 A1 discloses a series connection module for a modularly constructed control component, comprising a first series connection interface and a first bus interface as well as a second series connection interface and a second bus interface, wherein a bus communication line is constructed between the two bus interfaces and a plurality of connecting lines are constructed between the two series connections, and wherein the connecting lines between the two series connections are at least partially arranged as a Z-link. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a functional expansion for a pneumatic control device.

[0004] This object is achieved by a pneumatic control device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein a connection module is connected in series adjacent to the valve module, the connection module being provided with the second communication interface and the second power supply interface at a first coupling surface, and being provided with the first communication interface and the first power supply interface at a second coupling surface, in order to enable coupling of a further coupling module to a further valve module. It is provided here that a connection module is connected in series adjacent to the valve module, the connection module being provided with the second communication interface and the second power supply interface at a first coupling surface, and being provided with the first communication interface and the first power supply interface at a second coupling surface, in order to enable coupling of a further coupling module to a further valve module.

[0005] By means of such a connection module, it is possible to realize that another coupling module and at least one other valve module are connected in series to the preceding valve module along a preset series connection direction. It is assumed here that each valve module used is respectively equipped with a second communication interface and a second power supply interface both at its first coupling surface and at its second coupling surface. In this case, it is not feasible to couple a coupling module that complies with the standard to the preceding valve module in the series connection direction without an intermediate connection module that is appropriately constructed, and the first coupling surface of the coupling module that complies with the standard is equipped with a first communication interface and a first power supply interface. To be precise, the coupling module is configured to be coupled to a bus node (Busknoten) that is preceding in the series connection direction, and the coupling surface of the coupling module is equipped with a first communication interface and a first power supply interface.

[0006] The connection module used as an adapter between the valve module preceding in the series connection direction and the coupling module to be coupled is therefore presented as another valve module relative to the valve module preceding in the series connection direction. To this end, the connection module is equipped with a second communication interface and a second power supply interface at its first coupling surface, which are compatible with the second communication interface and the second power supply interface of the valve module preceding in the series connection direction. In addition, the connection module includes a first communication interface and a first power supply interface at its second coupling surface, as required for coupling the coupling module in the series connection direction. Here, the connection module can realize the transmission of the bus protocol transmitted via the first and second communication interfaces, and the transmission of the electrical energy via the first and second power supply interfaces to at least one other coupling module, and the other valve module can be assigned to the other coupling module, and the other valve module can be powered and controlled on this path.

[0007] In principle, it is assumed that at least one valve module, preferably two valve modules, in particular three valve modules, can be connected in series to the coupling module in the series direction for the pneumatic control device and can be supplied with power and activated accordingly. By means of the connecting module, a further module group can be coupled to such a group consisting of a coupling module and one, two or three valve modules (this group can also be referred to as a module group), which further module group itself can consist of a coupling module and up to three valve modules, without any further measures having to be taken for the pneumatic control device and its components such as bus nodes, coupling modules or valve modules in addition to providing the connecting module.

[0008] Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of further technical solutions of the invention.

[0009] It is expedient for the coupling module to have a plurality of, in particular three, output interfaces at the second coupling surface, which are electrically connected to the first power supply interface and to which a switching device is respectively assigned for safety-related disconnection of the correspondingly assigned output interface, which is designed for coupling to an input interface of a valve module. The task of the output interface is to enable a separate electrical supply to a valve module connected in series downstream of the coupling module. In addition to the electrical supply to all components of the pneumatic control device via the respectively assigned first and second power supply interfaces, this separate electrical supply to the valve module is also performed.

[0010] It is provided that a switching device, such as a relay or an electronic semiconductor switch, is provided between each first power supply interface, at which the supply of electrical energy to the coupling module occurs, and the corresponding output interface of the coupling module. With the switching device, the coupling module can individually supply the respectively assigned valve module with electricity according to the control signal transmitted via the communication line, which extends through all components of the pneumatic control device when using the first and second communication interfaces. The coupling module thus serves as a safety-related disconnection module for the connected valve module, so that the valve module can be regarded as a component of the safety-related architecture for the pneumatic control device.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the coupling module has a plurality of, in particular three, output interfaces which are electrically connected to the first power supply interface and to which a switching device for safety-related disconnection of the respectively assigned output interface is respectively assigned, wherein one of the output interfaces is arranged at a connection surface of the coupling module and is designed for connection to an external consumer, wherein the other output interfaces are arranged at a second coupling surface of the coupling module and are designed for coupling to an input interface of the valve module. In this alternative design of the coupling module, one of the three output interfaces is used for connection to an external consumer, such as an electric motor, and the two other output interfaces are designed for electrical supply to a downstream valve module.

[0012] In an advantageous development of the present invention, it is provided that the valve module has a first input interface, a second input interface and a third input interface at a first coupling surface, and has a first output interface, a second output interface and a third output interface at a second coupling surface, wherein the first input interface is electrically connected to a consumer in the valve module, and wherein the second input interface is electrically connected to the first output interface, and wherein the third input interface is electrically connected to the second output interface.

[0013] This electrical coupling of the input interfaces to the respectively assigned output interfaces achieves a so-called Z-link, wherein the electrical consumers contained in the valve module are always connected to the first input interface, while the electrical supply voltage provided at the two other input interfaces can be provided to the first and second output interfaces. This ensures that the electrical supply voltage provided at the input interfaces is clearly assigned to the respective consumers of the preferably three valve modules arranged in series with one another.

[0014] Preferably, the input and output interfaces are arranged at a predetermined mechanical separation on the corresponding coupling surfaces so that when the valve modules are connected in series in the series direction, the desired electrical coupling is always achieved between the output interface of the preceding valve module and the input interface of the subsequent valve module.

[0015] Preferably, the connection module has a plurality of input interfaces at the first coupling surface, and the plurality of input interfaces are configured to be coupled to the output interfaces of the valve module. This ensures an advantageous electromechanical coupling between the connection module and the valve module arranged in the series direction. Here, the output interface at the connection module is not assigned to the input interface at the connection module. For the valve module arranged after the connection module in the series direction, a separately switchable power supply line is provided from the coupling module arranged after the connection module to the assigned output interface, and the power supply line is thus independent of the supply voltage of the preceding valve module or the preceding module group.

[0016] Advantageously, an electrical connection between the second communication interface and the first communication interface and an electrical connection between the second power supply interface and the first power supply interface are formed in the connection module. This ensures that the same electrical signals can be applied to the coupling module arranged downstream of the connection module in the series connection direction in terms of communication and power supply as in the case of a coupling module directly connected to the bus node. Accordingly, the second coupling module or another coupling module within the pneumatic control device can realize the same functions as in the case of a coupling module directly coupled to the bus node.

[0017] In a further design of the present invention, it is provided that an electrical connection between the second communication interface and the first communication interface is constructed in the connection module, and the connection module has a feed-in interface electrically connected to the first power supply interface. In this alternative design of the connection module, the communication signal provided by the preceding valve module via the communication interface is transmitted unchanged to the rear coupling module and the valve module arranged therein. Conversely, one or more rear-arranged coupling modules and valve modules are electrically supplied by an externally fed voltage, which is connected to the feed-in interface of the connection module. Thus, different voltage zones can be realized inside the pneumatic control device through the connection module. Alternatively, the feed-in interface can also realize an intermediate feed-in (Zwischeneinspeisung) of voltage, so that sufficient electrical power can also be supplied to the rear-arranged coupling modules and valve modules.

[0018] Advantageously, a communication path is constructed between the first and second communication interfaces and a power supply path is constructed between the first and second power supply interfaces in the coupling module, and a communication path is constructed between the second communication interfaces and a power supply path is constructed between the second power supply interfaces in the valve module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a pneumatic control device with a bus node is shown, at which a first module group, a connection module and a second module group are connected in series;

[0021] Figure 2 Show according to Figure 1 Detailed drawing of the connection module;

[0022] Figure 3 A second embodiment of the pneumatic control device is shown, which has a Figure 1 bus node and a first module group and a second module group, and having a connection module constructed in a modified manner; and

[0023] Figure 4 Show according to Figure 3 Detail of the connection module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the following description of the figures, for the sake of clarity, components that occur multiple times are generally provided only once with the respectively designated reference numerals, wherein the assignment of reference numerals to components does not necessarily correspond to the respectively described component in detail.

[0025] Figure 1The pneumatic control device 1 shown in the figure is designed to supply compressed air to a plurality of fluid consumers (not shown), in particular pneumatic cylinders. The pneumatic control device 1 can be used, for example, to operate a production machine (not shown), wherein, during the execution of a production process, for example, workpieces must be fixed and / or transported, which can be performed by means of pneumatic actuators, such as pneumatic cylinders. These pneumatic actuators are each supplied with compressed air by the pneumatic control device.

[0026] By way of example, it is provided that the pneumatic control device 1 is connected to a controller (not shown), in particular a programmable logic controller (PLC), which provides control signals to the pneumatic control device 1 via a predetermined communication protocol. For this purpose, the pneumatic control device 1 comprises a bus node 2 equipped with a bus interface 3, which is designed to receive control signals from a higher-level control device and to transmit these control signals to downstream components, which are described in more detail below.

[0027] It is preferably provided that the control signals provided by the superordinate control device at the bus interface 3 are converted into a proprietary communication protocol in the bus node 2. The converted control signals are then provided to downstream components of the pneumatic control device 1. The proprietary communication protocol can be, for example, a proprietary digital bus protocol or alternatively digital or analog control signals, which are provided to downstream components of the pneumatic control device 1 via separate control signal lines (multipolar line components) not shown in detail.

[0028] Furthermore, a supply connection 4 is formed at the bus node 2, which is designed for coupling in electrical energy from a power source (not shown in detail). The electrical energy fed in at the supply connection 4 is intended not only for supplying power to the bus node 2, but also for transmission to components of the pneumatic control device 1 described in detail below.

[0029] A first communication interface 6 and a first power supply interface 8 are formed on the coupling surface 5 of the bus node 2 , wherein the communication signals fed in and converted at the bus interface 3 are provided at the first communication interface 6 , and the electrical supply voltage fed in at the power supply connection 4 is provided at the first power supply interface 8 .

[0030] In a purely exemplary right-facing series direction 10 for the pneumatic control device 1, a coupling module 11 is connected in series adjacent to the bus node 2 and rests with a first coupling surface 15 on the coupling surface 5 of the bus node 2. In addition, the coupling module 11 has a second coupling surface 16 pointing away from the bus node 2. A first communication interface 6 and a first power supply interface 8 of the coupling module are configured on the first coupling surface 15. A second communication interface 7 and a second power supply interface 9 of the coupling module 11 are configured on the second coupling surface 16. Starting from the first communication interface 6, a communication line 20 extends through the coupling module 11 to the second communication interface 7. In addition, starting from the first power supply interface 8 of the coupling module 11, a power supply line 21 extends to the second power supply interface 9, which is configured on the second coupling surface 16 of the coupling module 11.

[0031] For the present pneumatic control device 1, it is assumed that the interfaces respectively designated in the same way can be coupled to each other electrically and mechanically. For example, the bus node 2 and the first communication interface 6 of the coupling module 11 can each be designed as a resilient contact element protruding slightly from the corresponding coupling surface 5 or 15, so as to ensure the desired electrical coupling between the bus node 2 and the coupling module 11 with respect to the first communication interface 6.

[0032] Furthermore, the coupling module 11 comprises a pneumatic interface 17 at the first coupling surface 15, which is designed for feeding compressed air into the pneumatic control device 1 and which is connected to a compressed air source 18, which is only schematically shown. Starting from the pneumatic interface 17, a pneumatic line 22 extends to the pneumatic interface 17 on the second coupling surface 16 of the coupling module 11.

[0033] The coupling module 11 further comprises, for example, three output interfaces 25, 26 and 27, which are assigned to the second coupling surface 16 and which can be electrically connected to the power supply line 21 via respectively assigned switching devices 28, 29, 30, which are only schematically shown. For example, it is provided that the first switching device 28, the second switching device 29 and the third switching device 30 are respectively constructed as semiconductor switches. The control of these switching devices 28 to 30 is carried out by a processing device (not shown in detail) of the coupling module 11, which is connected to the communication line 20 in a manner that is also not shown in detail, so that the control instructions can be converted into corresponding switching signals for the switching devices 28 to 30. Accordingly, by means of the power supply line 21, the switching devices 28 to 30 and the output interfaces 25 to 27, it is possible to selectively provide electrical energy to the valve module 35 connected in series to the coupling module 11.

[0034] The valve module 35 comprises a second communication interface 7 and a second power supply interface 9 both at a first coupling surface 36 facing the coupling module 11 and at a second coupling surface 37 facing away from the coupling module 11. In addition, the valve module 35 comprises three input interfaces 31, 32 and 33 at the first coupling surface 36 purely by way of example, which are configured to be electrically connected to the assigned output interfaces 25, 26 and 27 of the coupling module 11. In addition, the valve module 35 comprises output interfaces 25, 26 and 27 configured correspondingly to the coupling module 11 at the second coupling surface. In addition, in the valve module 35, starting from the pneumatic interface 17 at the first coupling surface 36, the power supply line 21 extends to the pneumatic interface 17 at the second coupling surface 37.

[0035] In the valve module 35, a magnetic drive 38 is designed purely by way of example and is electrically connected to the first input connection 31. The magnetic drive 38 serves to electromechanically control a switching valve 39, which is designed purely by way of example as a 2 / 2-way valve, whose input connection 40 is connected to the pneumatic line 22 and whose output connection 41 is connected to the working connection 42. Thus, when an electrical supply voltage is provided at the first input connection 31 of the valve module 35, the magnetic drive 38 can be activated in order to transfer the switching valve 39 from a first functional position, in particular a closed position, to a second functional position, in particular an open position. In the open position, a communicating connection is established between the pneumatic line 22 and the working connection 42, so that a pneumatic consumer (not shown in detail) connected to the working connection 42 can be supplied with compressed air.

[0036] In order to advantageously transmit the electrical supply voltage provided at the output connections 26 and 27 of the coupling module 11, two connecting lines 45 and 46 are formed purely by way of example in the valve module 35. The connecting line 45 is formed for the electrical connection of the second input connection 32 of the valve module 35 with the first output connection 25. The connecting line 46 is formed for the electrical connection of the third input connection 33 of the valve module 35 with the second output connection 26. This results in a Z-link between the second input connection 32 and the first output connection 25 and between the third input connection 33 and the second output connection 26 in the valve module 35, by means of which the supply voltage applied to the input connections 32 and 33 can be transmitted in a defined manner to the downstream valve module 35, such as also by the valve module 35. Figure 1 As can be seen from the view.

[0037] For example, it is provided that two other valve modules 35 of the same structure are connected in series to the valve module 35 directly connected in series to the coupling module 11, wherein the three valve modules 35 together with the coupling module 11 form a module group 50. Based on the structure of the valve modules 35 and the number of the switching devices 28 to 30 in the coupling module 11, it can be seen that a supply voltage that can be switched on and off in a targeted manner can be supplied to exactly three valve modules 35 within the module group 50 via the respectively assigned input interfaces 31 to 33.

[0038] In the case of a further valve module 35 connected in series to the module group 50, this valve module is connected to the preceding coupling module 11 only via the communication line 20, the power supply line 21 and the pneumatic line 22. In contrast, in this case, the coupling module 11 is excluded from directly influencing the valve module 35 by means of the switching devices 28, 29 and 30.

[0039] If it is to be provided that a further, in particular identically constructed module group 50 is connected to the module group 50, a connection module 54 is provided. The connection module 54 rests with a first coupling surface 55 on the second coupling surface 37 of the valve module 35 and provides a second coupling surface 56 for coupling to a further coupling module 11. For this purpose, a second communication interface 7 and a second power supply interface 9 are formed on the first coupling surface 55, so that the connection module 54 appears like a further valve module 35 relative to the valve module 35. In contrast, the first communication interface 6 and the first power supply interface 8 are assigned to the second coupling surface 56, so that the connection module 54 appears like a bus node 2 from an electromechanical point of view relative to the coupling module 11 to be connected in series later.

[0040] For example, it is provided that three input interfaces 31 to 33 are also constructed at the first coupling surface 55, which are not further connected inside the connection module 54 and correspond to the output interfaces 25, 26 and 27 of the valve module 35. Conversely, it is provided that only the second communication interface 7 is electrically connected to the first communication interface 6 via the assigned communication line 20, and the second power supply interface 9 is electrically connected to the first power supply interface 8 via the assigned power supply line 21. In addition, the connection module 54 is also equipped with pneumatic interfaces 17 at the two coupling surfaces 55 and 56, which are coupled to each other inside the connection module 54 via pneumatic lines 22. At the connection module 54, according to the configuration of its second coupling surface 56 with the first communication interface 6 and the first power supply interface 8, another coupling module 11 can be arranged, which can itself be coupled to another valve module 35 arranged in the series direction 10, so as to form another module group 50.

[0041] It is provided here that control signals can be transmitted via the first and second communication interfaces 6 , 7 and the communication line 20 from the bus node 2 to the two module groups 50 and can be used there to selectively control individual valve modules 35 .

[0042] Figure 3 The pneumatic control device 61 shown in Figure 1The difference of the pneumatic control device 1 is only in the differently constructed connection module 64, the first coupling surface 65 of which is provided with the second communication interface 7 and the pneumatic interface 17. The second coupling surface 66 of the connection module 64 is equipped with the first communication interface 6 and the first power supply interface 8. In order to provide electrical energy to the first power supply interface 8, a feed interface 68 is constructed at the connection surface 67 of the connection module 64. In this way, it is possible to feed electrical energy to the coupling module 11 arranged in the series direction 10 independently of the bus node 2 arranged in the front. As a result, a different supply voltage can be applied to the valve module 35 arranged at the coupling module 11 arranged in the rear relative to the previous module group 50 powered by the bus node 2.

[0043] In line with the connecting module 54 , a pneumatic line 22 is provided for the connecting module 64 , which extends between the pneumatic interface 17 at the first coupling surface 65 and the second coupling surface 66 .

[0044] In an embodiment of the coupling module that is not shown, one of the switching devices 28 to 30 is not connected to one of the output interfaces 25 to 27, but to an additional connection interface, which is not arranged at the coupling surface, but at a connection surface that is freely accessible even in the coupled state of the coupling module, so that a correspondingly modified coupling module can directly control an electrical consumer that is not constructed as a valve module.

Claims

1. A pneumatic control device (1), the pneumatic control device (1) having a bus node (2), the bus node being equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8) at a bus node coupling surface (5); the pneumatic control device (1) having a coupling module (11), the coupling module being equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8) at a first coupling module coupling surface (15), and being equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9) at a second coupling module coupling surface (16); and the pneumatic control device (1) having a valve module (35), the valve module being equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9) at a first valve module coupling surface (36) and at a second valve module coupling surface (37), respectively, wherein: The coupling module (11) is connected in series to the bus node (2) by means of the first coupling module coupling surface (15), and wherein the valve module (35) is connected in series to the coupling module (11) by means of the first valve module coupling surface (36), characterized in that a connection module (54; 64) is connected in series adjacent to the valve module (35), and the connection module is equipped with a second communication interface (7) and a second power supply interface (9) at the first connection module coupling surface (55; 65), and is equipped with a first communication interface (6) and a first power supply interface (8) at the second connection module coupling surface (56; 66), so as to realize the coupling of another coupling module (11) with another valve module (35).

2. According to the pneumatic control device (1) according to claim 1, the coupling module (11) has a plurality of output interfaces (25, 26, 27) at the second coupling module coupling surface (16), the output interfaces are electrically connected to the first power supply interface (8), and the output interfaces are respectively assigned switching devices (28, 29, 30) for safety-related disconnection of the corresponding assigned output interfaces (25, 26, 27), and the output interfaces are configured to be coupled to the input interfaces (31, 32, 33) of the valve module (35).

3. The pneumatic control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling module (11) has a plurality of output interfaces (25, 26, 27), wherein the output interfaces are electrically connected to the first power supply interface (8), and the output interfaces are respectively assigned switching devices (28, 29, 30) for safety-related disconnection of the respectively assigned output interfaces (25, 26, 27), wherein: One of the output interfaces is arranged at a connection surface of the coupling module (11) and is configured for connecting an external consumer, and the other output interface is arranged at a second coupling module coupling surface (16) of the coupling module (11) and is configured for coupling to an input interface (31, 32, 33) of the valve module (35).

4. The pneumatic control device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the valve module (35) has a first input interface (31), a second input interface (32) and a third input interface (33) at the first valve module coupling surface (36), and has a first output interface (25), a second output interface (26) and a third output interface (27) at the second valve module coupling surface (37), wherein: The first input interface (31) is electrically connected to a consumer (38) in the valve module (35), wherein the second input interface (32) is electrically connected to the first output interface (25), and wherein the third input interface (33) is electrically connected to the second output interface (26).

5. According to the pneumatic control device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, the connecting module (54; 64) has a plurality of input interfaces (31, 32, 33) at the first connecting module coupling surface (55; 65), and the input interfaces are configured to be coupled to the output interfaces (25, 26, 27) of the valve module (35).

6. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, an electrical connection (20) between the second communication interface (7) and the first communication interface (6) and an electrical connection (21) between the second power supply interface (9) and the first power supply interface (8) are constructed in the connection module (54).

7. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, an electrical connection between the second communication interface (7) and the first communication interface (6) is constructed in the connecting module (64), and the connecting module (64) has a feed-in interface (68) electrically connected to the first power supply interface (8).

8. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, a pneumatic control device is configured in the coupling module (11) between the first communication interface (6) and the second communication interface (7), and a power supply path (21) is configured between the first power supply interface (8) and the second power supply interface (9), and a communication path (20) is configured between the second communication interface (7) and a power supply path (21) is configured between the second power supply interface (9) in the valve module (35).

9. The pneumatic control device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the coupling module (11) has three output interfaces (25, 26, 27) on the second coupling module coupling surface (16).

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