Clamping piece for quick release structure of PLC module

Abstract

The utility model discloses a clamping piece for a quick release structure of a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) module, which is designed to be mounted on a shell of the PLC module and is matched with a clamping block in a mounting groove to realize quick mounting and dismounting of the PLC module. The clamping piece is integrally formed through an injection molding process and comprises a guide part, an opening and closing operation part, an elastic clamping part and a limiting body. The guide part ensures that the clamping piece only moves up and down in the mounting groove; the opening and closing operation part facilitates movement of the clamping piece; the elastic clamping part is matched with the clamping block, so that stable positioning of the clamping piece is realized; the limiting body comprises a first limiting part used for limiting the movement limit position and a second limiting part matched with the PLC installation guide rail. According to the design, the production and assembly process is simplified, the cost is reduced, and the use convenience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This solution relates to the field of track-mounted electricals, and specifically relates to a clamping piece for a quick-release structure of a PLC module. Background Art

[0002] PLC is a currently mature modular electrical control system, which has many advantages such as stable operation, easy fault finding, and modular replaceability, and plays a crucial role in the field of modern industrial control.

[0003] The PLC module is generally fixed on the guide rail inside the electrical cabinet. To achieve rapid installation and disassembly, a quick-release structure is generally provided. The traditional quick-release structure is based on a spring to achieve the clamping of the locking piece and the track. During disassembly, a screwdriver is used to pry the operating ring to counteract the elastic force of the spring and achieve the separation of the quick-release structure from the track. However, this traditional structure relies on the operation of an independent spring piece, which needs to be produced separately and is a small component, and the assembly work is also very delicate. In short, it increases the production cost of the product.

[0004] Moreover, when removing a damaged PLC module, the quick-release structure must be constantly pried until the PLC module is removed from the installation guide rail. Otherwise, once released, the spring will pull the quick-release structure back to the locked state, resulting in disassembly failure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present utility model is to provide a quick-release structure for installing a PLC module with low cost.

[0006] The specific technical solution for the present utility model to solve the above technical problems is as follows:

[0007] A clamping piece for a quick-release structure of a PLC module is installed on the PLC module housing. An installation groove is provided on the PLC module housing, and a clamping block is provided in the installation groove; the clamping piece is integrally formed by an injection molding process and includes a guiding portion, an opening and closing operation portion, an elastic clamping portion, and a limiting body;

[0008] The guiding portion is used to limit the clamping piece to move up and down only within the installation groove;

[0009] The opening and closing operation portion is used to operate the clamping piece to move up or down within the installation groove;

[0010] The elastic clamping portion is used to cooperate with the clamping block in the installation groove so that the elastic clamping portion is constrained on the upper side or the lower side of the clamping block;

[0011] The limiting body includes a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion. The first limiting portion is used to limit the extreme positions of the up and down movement of the clamping piece within the installation groove, and the second limiting portion is used to cooperate with the PLC installation guide rail to clamp the PLC module on the PLC installation guide rail.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, since this solution is integrally formed and there is no independent spring piece, the production and assembly are simple and the cost is low. On the other hand, two extreme positions are set, and the elastic engaging part can be stably located at the two extreme positions, so it is not necessary to keep picking the operating part during disassembly, making it more convenient to use.

[0013] Furthermore, the opening and closing operating part includes a "convex"-shaped opening, which can be operated with a flat screwdriver or a Phillips screwdriver.

[0014] Furthermore, the first limiting part includes an upper limiting part and a lower limiting part. The upper limiting part is used to limit the extreme upper position of the clamping piece in the installation groove, that is, the upper extreme position, and the lower limiting part is used to limit the extreme lower position of the clamping piece in the installation groove, that is, the lower extreme position.

[0015] Furthermore, the second limiting part includes a buckling side and a driving side arranged oppositely. The buckling side is used to abut against the installation guide rail in the buckled state to achieve buckling limit; the driving side is a slope surface, which is used to abut against the installation guide rail before buckling to decompose the externally applied pressing force into an upward thrust from bottom to top. This thrust will drive the clamping piece to move upward from the lower extreme position. The installation of the module can be achieved without operating the opening and closing operating part.

[0016] Furthermore, a slope surface is provided on the side of the upper limiting part facing the PLC module housing, so that the upper limiting part can generate a certain deformation during assembly to cross the limiting block arranged in the installation groove.

[0017] Furthermore, the second limiting part is provided with an avoidance area for avoiding the PLC installation guide rail. Thus, it is no longer necessary to make the PLC housing stepped, and the overall production cost is lower.

[0018] Furthermore, during the transition of the elastic engaging part between the lower extreme position and the upper extreme position, it will generate elastic deformation under the constraint of the engaging block and will pass through an equilibrium point. At the equilibrium point, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has no component force in the moving direction or the reverse direction of the movement of the clamping piece, that is, there is only a force perpendicular to the moving direction; at non-equilibrium points, affected by the shape of the engaging block, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has a component force in the moving direction or the reverse direction of the movement of the clamping piece, and this component force has a tendency to drive the clamping piece to move towards the upper extreme position or the lower extreme position to achieve force balance.

[0019] Furthermore, the height of the overlapping part between the second limiting part and the PLC installation guide rail is less than the distance between the balance point and the lower extreme limit. In this way, when the clamping piece is originally at the lower extreme limit and the PLC module is installed, the slope surface of the second limiting part abuts against the PLC installation guide rail. Under the action of the external extrusion force, the clamping piece moves upward, and the elastic engaging part undergoes elastic deformation under the influence of the engaging block. However, before it can cross the balance point, the second limiting part has already risen above the PLC installation guide rail. Under the action of the elastic force of the elastic deformation, the clamping piece quickly moves downward to restore its original shape, realizing the clamping installation of the PLC module. The setting of this height difference ensures that during the installation process, the clamping piece will not rise above the balance point. Because once it crosses the balance point, the component force generated by the elastic deformation will drive the clamping piece to move towards the upper extreme limit. If that were the case, manual pressing of the clamping piece back would be required during installation, reducing work efficiency.

[0020] Furthermore, the contact position between the elastic engaging part and the engaging block or the position where the engaging block contacts the elastic engaging part is an arc surface.

[0021] Furthermore, the second limiting part is separately provided to reduce the friction between the PLC installation guide rail and the second limiting part during installation and lower the installation difficulty. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the clamping piece at the lower extreme limit in Embodiment 1;

[0023] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the clamping piece at the upper extreme limit in Embodiment 1;

[0024] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the front view structure of the clamping piece in Embodiment 1

[0025] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the back view structure of the clamping piece in Embodiment 1;

[0026] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the installation groove and engaging block structure on the PLC module housing when the clamping piece is not installed in Embodiment 1;

[0027] Figure 6 Schematic diagram when the end of the elastic engaging part of the clamping piece is at the balance point in Embodiment 1;

[0028] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the balance point in Embodiment 1;

[0029] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the front view structure of the clamping piece in Embodiment 2;

[0030] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the back view structure of the clamping piece in Embodiment 2;

[0031] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the installation groove and engaging block structure on the PLC module housing when the engaging piece is not installed in Embodiment 2;

[0032] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the engaging piece located at the lower extreme limit in Embodiment 2;

[0033] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the engaging piece located at the upper extreme limit in Embodiment 2;

[0034] In the attached drawings, the list of component names represented by each label is as follows:

[0035] 1. PLC module housing; 2. Installation groove; 3. Engaging block; 4. Engaging piece; 5. Guiding part; 6. Opening and closing operation part; 7. Elastic engaging part; 81. First limiting part; 811. Upper limiting part; 812. Lower limiting part; 82. Second limiting part; 821. Buckling side; 822. Driving side; 823. Avoidance area; 9. Upper extreme limit; 10. Lower extreme limit; 11. Balance point; 12. PLC installation guide rail. Specific embodiments

[0036] The principles and features of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. The examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0037] Embodiment 1

[0038] As Figures 1 - 7 shown, an engaging piece 4 for the quick-release structure of a PLC module is installed in the installation groove 2 on the PLC module housing 1, and includes a guiding part 5, an opening and closing operation part 6, an elastic engaging part 7 and a limiting body. The guiding part 5 ensures that the engaging piece 4 can only move up and down in the installation groove 2; the opening and closing operation part 6 adopts a "convex"-shaped opening design and supports the operation of flat and cross screwdrivers; the elastic engaging part 7 is two legs in a V shape, the ends of the legs are cylindrical and extend downward, and cooperate with the engaging block 3 in the installation groove 2. After assembly, except for the cylindrical ends of the legs, the rest of the legs do not interfere with the engaging block 3 in the height direction, that is, the engaging block 3 only contacts the cylindrical ends of the legs; the engaging block 3 is in a spear shape, so that the engaging piece 4 is stably located above or below the engaging block 3 without sufficient external force; the limiting body is composed of a first limiting part 81 and a second limiting part 82. The former limits the movement limit of the engaging piece 4, the upper extreme limit 9 or the lower extreme limit 10, and the latter cooperates with the PLC installation guide rail 12 to realize the clamping of the PLC module.

[0039] The first limiting portion 81 is further subdivided into an upper limiting portion 811 and a lower limiting portion 812, which respectively limit the upper and lower extreme positions of the clamping piece 4 in the installation groove 2. The second limiting portion 82 includes a buckling side 821 and a driving side 822. The buckling side 821 is used to abut against the installation guide rail to achieve buckling. The driving side 822 is a slope surface, which is convenient for automatically pushing the clamping piece 4 upward from the lower extreme position 10 during the installation process.

[0040] The design of the second limiting portion 82 is provided with an avoidance area 823 for avoiding the PLC installation guide rail 12, so that there is no need to make an avoidance area on the PLC module housing 1, reducing the production cost. At the same time, the height of the overlapping portion of the second limiting portion 82 and the PLC installation guide rail 12 is adjusted to ensure that the clamping piece 4 does not cross the balance point 11 during the process of installing the PLC module onto the guide rail, that is, the clamping piece 4 does not transition from the lower extreme position 10 to the upper extreme position 9, improving the installation efficiency. The so-called balance point 11 refers to a balance point 11 that the elastic clamping portion 7 will pass through during the transition between the lower extreme position 10 and the upper extreme position 9. When being restricted by the engaging block 3, elastic deformation will occur. At the balance point 11, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has no component force in the up and down directions, that is, there is only a force in the horizontal direction; at non-balance points 11, affected by the shape of the engaging block 3, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has a component force in the up and down directions, and this component force can drive the clamping piece 4 to move towards the upper extreme position 9 or the lower extreme position 10. The height h of the overlapping portion of the second limiting portion 82 and the PLC installation guide rail 12 is less than the distance H between the balance point 11 and the lower extreme position 10 (refer to Figure 1 and Figure 6 ). In this way, when the clamping piece 4 is originally at the lower extreme position 10 and the PLC module is installed, the slope surface of the second limiting portion 82 abuts against the PLC installation guide rail 12. Under the action of the extrusion force applied externally, the clamping piece 4 moves upward, and the elastic clamping portion 7 generates elastic deformation under the influence of the engaging block 3, but before crossing the balance point 11, the second limiting portion 82 has risen to cross the PLC installation guide rail 12. Under the action of the elastic force of the elastic deformation, the clamping piece 4 quickly moves downward to return to the lower extreme position 10, realizing the clamping installation of the PLC module. The setting of this height difference enables the clamping piece 4 to automatically reset to the lower extreme position 10 for clamping during the installation process, rather than rising to cross the balance point 11, resulting in the component force generated by the elastic deformation driving the clamping piece 4 to move towards the upper extreme position 9. If so, during installation, it would be necessary to manually press the clamping piece 4 back, which would reduce the work efficiency.

[0041] The contact surface between the elastic clamping portion 7 and the engaging block 3 is processed into an arc surface to reduce friction and improve the durability of the clamping piece 4. In addition, the second limiting portion 82 is designed as a split structure, further reducing the friction with the PLC installation guide rail 12 during installation and making the installation process smoother.

[0042] Embodiment 2

[0043] As Figures 8 - 12 shown, the shape of the specific components in this example is different from that in Embodiment 1, but the functions are the same. It includes a guiding part 5, an opening and closing operation part 6, an elastic engaging part 7 and a limiting body. The guiding part 5 ensures that the movement direction of the clamping piece 4 in the installation groove 2 is restricted; the opening and closing operation part 6 adopts a "convex"-shaped opening design, supporting the operation of flat and cross screwdrivers; the elastic engaging part 7 has two V-shaped legs, and the ends of the legs are cylindrical, cooperating with the engaging block 3 in the installation groove 2, and the engaging block 3 is spear-shaped to ensure that the clamping piece 4 is stably located at the upper extreme limit 9 or the lower extreme limit 10; the limiting body is composed of a first limiting part 81 and a second limiting part 82. The former limits the movement limit of the clamping piece 4, and the latter cooperates with the PLC installation rail 12 to realize the clamping of the PLC module.

[0044] The first limiting part 81 is further subdivided into an upper limiting part 811 and a lower limiting part 812, which respectively limit the upper and lower extreme positions of the clamping piece 4 in the installation groove 2. The second limiting part 82 includes a buckling side 821 and a driving side 822. The buckling side 821 is used to abut against the installation rail to realize buckling, and the driving side 822 is a slope surface, which is convenient to automatically push the clamping piece 4 upward from the lower extreme limit 10 during the installation process.

[0045] In the design of the second limiting part 82, an avoidance area 823 for avoiding the PLC installation rail 12 is provided, reducing the production cost. At the same time, the height of the overlapping part of the second limiting part 82 and the PLC installation rail 12 is adjusted to ensure that the clamping piece 4 does not cross the balance point 11 during the installation process, improving the installation efficiency.

[0046] The contact surface between the elastic engaging part 7 and the engaging block 3 is processed into an arc surface to reduce friction and improve the durability of the clamping piece 4. In addition, the second limiting part 82 is designed as a split structure, further reducing the friction with the PLC installation rail 12 during installation and making the installation process smoother.

[0047] In Embodiment 1, the engaging block 3 is located in the middle and lower part of the installation groove 2. In this example, the position of the engaging block 3 is at the upper end of the installation groove 2. The advantage of this setting is that when installing the clamping piece 4, the clamping piece 4 can be installed obliquely. When the guiding part 5 enters the installation groove 2, the upper limiting part 811 is still expected to be above the engaging block 3 based on the micro-deformation of the clamping piece 4. Therefore, the upper limiting part 811 does not need to abut against the engaging block 3 to generate deformation and cross the engaging block 3, and the installation is simpler.

[0048] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fast-release structure card connector for a PLC module, installed on a PLC module housing, wherein the PLC module housing is provided with a mounting groove, and a snap-fit ​​block is provided in the mounting groove; characterized in that: The clamping piece is integrally formed by injection molding and includes a guide portion, an opening and closing operation portion, an elastic clamping portion and a limiting body; The guide portion is used to limit the clamping piece to move up and down only in the installation slot; The opening and closing operation part is used to operate the card connecting piece to move upward or downward in the installation groove; The elastic engaging portion is used to cooperate with the engaging block in the installation groove, so that the elastic engaging portion is constrained on the upper side or the lower side of the engaging block; The limiting body includes a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion, wherein the first limiting portion is used to limit the upper and lower movement limit positions of the card connecting piece in the mounting groove, and the second limiting portion is used to cooperate with the PLC mounting rail to clamp the PLC module on the PLC mounting rail.

2. The quick-release structure card connector of the PLC module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The opening and closing operation portion includes a "convex" shaped opening.

3. The quick-release structure card connector of the PLC module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first limit portion includes an upper limit portion and a lower limit portion, the upper limit portion is used to limit the upper limit position of the card connector in the installation groove, that is, the upper limit position, and the lower limit portion is used to limit the lower limit position of the card connector in the installation groove, that is, the lower limit position.

4. The quick-release structure card connector for a PLC module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second limiting portion includes a snap-fitting side and a driving side that are relatively arranged. The snap-fitting side is used to abut against the mounting rail in the snap-fitting state to achieve snap-fit ​​limiting. The driving side is a sloped surface, which is used to abut against the mounting rail before snapping, and decompose the externally applied pressing force into a thrust from bottom to top, and this thrust will drive the clamping piece to move upward from the lower limit position.

5. The quick-release structure card connector of the PLC module according to claim 3, characterized in that: A slope surface is provided on one side of the upper limit portion facing the PLC module housing.

6. The card connector for quick-release structure of PLC module according to claim 5, characterized in that: A clearance area for avoiding the PLC installation guide rail is provided at the bottom of the second limiting portion.

7. The quick-release structure card connector for a PLC module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: During the transition process between the lower limit position and the upper limit position, the elastic engaging portion will produce elastic deformation due to the constraint of the engaging block and will pass through an equilibrium point. At the equilibrium point, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has no component in the direction of movement of the engaging piece or in the opposite direction of movement, that is, there is only a force perpendicular to the direction of movement; at the unbalanced point, affected by the shape of the engaging block, the restoring elastic force generated by the elastic deformation has a component in the direction of movement of the engaging piece or in the opposite direction of movement, and this component force tends to drive the engaging piece to move to the upper limit position or the lower limit position.

8. The card connector for quick-release structure of PLC module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The height of the overlapping portion between the second limit portion and the PLC installation rail is less than the distance between the balance point and the lower limit position.

9. The quick-release structure card connector for a PLC module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The contact position between the elastic clamping portion and the clamping block or the contact position between the clamping block and the elastic clamping portion is an arc surface.

10. The quick-release structure card connector for a PLC module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The second limiting portion is provided in a split body.

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