INPUT-OUTPUT DEVICES WITH SPLASHED LINES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for distributing data and a method for manufacturing such an arrangement for distributing data according to the features of the respective preamble of the independent claims.

[0002] An arrangement for distributing data, but not a manufacturing method for such an arrangement, is known from utility model DE 93 05 529 U1. An input / output device has a housing with plug connections as interfaces, through which connectors can be optionally inserted (and unplugged). Data cables are connected to these connectors, and a device, such as a sensor, actuator, or the like, is connected to the other end of each cable. One of the devices is configured to connect the device to a higher-level control unit, whereby data is sent (distributed) to or received from the devices (such as the aforementioned sensors or actuators) via the input / output device.

[0003] In this state of the art, the connectors that are attached to the interfaces of the input / output device are designed as screw-in terminals. While this design has proven itself in practice, particularly with regard to the reliability and sealing of the connection, it is disadvantageous that a large number of parts (such as devices, data cables, connectors, and terminals) must be manufactured separately and subsequently assembled separately in the field.

[0004] Due to the large number of elements of the assembly that need to be mounted in the field, it cannot always be ensured that the assembly has been carried out correctly, so that, for example, the assembly of the plug-in screw connection may not have been carried out properly as a result of an angled insertion and therefore transmission difficulties as well as sealing problems may occur.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the objective of improving a generic arrangement and avoiding the disadvantages described at the outset.

[0006] Furthermore, the invention is intended to provide a method for manufacturing such an arrangement.

[0007] These problems are solved by the features of independent patent claims.

[0008] Regarding the arrangement for distributing data, a first embodiment of the invention provides that the housing of the input / output device is manufactured using a plastic injection molding process, and that each end of the data cable is enclosed by the housing. This means that by manufacturing the housing of the input / output device using a plastic injection molding process, which protects the interior, in particular the sensitive electrical and electronic components of the input / output device during field use, the housing also encloses the end of at least one data cable, thus creating a media-tight and mechanically robust connection. This eliminates the need for complex plug-in screw terminals and their disadvantages regarding incorrect assembly and leaks.The length of the overmolded area of ​​the data cable, especially its outer sheath, is chosen so that longitudinal water tightness is achieved, but also resistance to mechanical stresses such as tensile and compressive stresses, as well as bending movements.

[0009] In a second embodiment, the invention provides that the housing of the input / output device is made of a metal material and that an inner area of ​​the housing is encapsulated with a plastic material, the plastic material extending over at least the respective end region of the data cable. The use of a metal material for the housing has the advantage that it shields the inner area, thus eliminating the need for further shielding measures. For this purpose, the shielding of the respective data cable is electrically contacted with the metal housing directly or indirectly (for example, via connecting elements such as cables, springs, or the like).

[0010] A metal housing (for example, die-cast) could also be considered, which is then overmolded with plastic. During this overmolding process, the ends of the cables leading into the housing are also encased, or the overmolding even extends to the connected sensors / actuators. This means that the second shell (housing) is applied around the metal housing using an injection molding process to improve the feel, for design reasons, and also for functional reasons. In particular, IP protection is achieved through the plastic outer housing. For very short lengths of connected data cables, stranded wires could be used instead of a complete cable, which would then be routed to the sensors via a type of strain relief sleeve. Furthermore, the advantages listed above for the first variant also apply to this second variant.Pouring the interior of the metal housing (analogous to the further variant described below) is also conceivable here.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the invention provides that the housing of the input / output device is made of plastic and that an inner area of ​​the housing is encapsulated with a plastic material, the plastic material extending over at least the respective end region of the data cable. A liquid medium is introduced into the inner area (cavity) and hardens there. The cavity can be completely encapsulated or only partially encapsulated. Encapsulating (or also referred to as potting) the inner area has the advantage that it is effectively protected from external influences such as dust, moisture, liquids, and the like. Furthermore, the advantages listed above for the first and / or second embodiment also remain in this further embodiment.

[0012] It is also conceivable to manufacture a housing from plastic (for example, using injection molding or another process) and then overmold this plastic housing, including the cables leading into it, with another layer of plastic. Using a two-component injection molding process, a housing can be produced, for example, from a suitable harder plastic, while a softer plastic is used simultaneously to create the seal at the housing interfaces for the cables.

[0013] Ideally, the same plastic material should be used for the housing as for the outer sheath of the cables. Alternatively, different plastic materials can be used, processed using a two-component injection molding process. For a good seal, it is always advantageous if the plastic has the same material properties as the cable sheath. However, other criteria such as media resistance, flammability, smoke emission, or transparency may necessitate a different plastic than that used for the cable. Cables must be abrasion-resistant and flexible, making the use of different materials applied via a two-component injection molding process quite practical.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that a housing of at least one of the devices is injection-molded onto an end section of its associated data cable. While in the prior art the devices, such as the aforementioned sensors, actuators, or the like, are also connected via plug connectors, such as the aforementioned plug-in screw connectors, resulting in the same disadvantages described above, here too the advantage is exploited that a device housing is manufactured using a plastic injection molding process, and an end section of the respective data cable is also overmolded. This also ensures longitudinal water tightness, reduces the number of elements to be mounted in the field, and consequently eliminates incorrect assembly, such as misaligned plug-in screw connectors that are therefore prone to transmission errors and leaks.

[0015] It has been assumed so far that at least one of several data cables, with its associated end section, is molded onto the housing of the input / output device, and optionally at least one end section of a data cable is molded onto the housing of at least one participant. This means that it is not precluded to provide interfaces on the input / output device to which connectors can be plugged, as is implemented, for example, in the prior art described above.

[0016] To optimize the sealing of the entire assembly and to reduce the number of elements to be mounted in the field, the invention provides that all data cables are enclosed by the housing of the input / output device and that the housings of all participants are molded onto the end section of their respective data cables. This creates a self-contained assembly that is sealed against external influences. Furthermore, after prior measurement of the installation location, it is possible to produce a customized arrangement for data distribution with regard to the placement of the input / output device and also with regard to the length of the data cables between the input / output device and the arrangement of the respective participants.

[0017] The variants of the arrangements for distributing data described above can be manufactured according to the inventive method for producing such an arrangement.

[0018] Plastic injection molding processes are generally known in which the elements involved are placed in a plastic injection mold and then surrounded with a plastic.

[0019] According to the manufacturing process of the invention, this means that the elements located inside the input / output device (such as a circuit board with electrical and electronic components arranged on it) and the end of each data cable, which is to be surrounded by the plastic of the housing, are placed in the injection mold, and these areas are then surrounded by plastic. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the housing of the input / output device is first manufactured without its internal elements, whereby the ends of the respective data cables, preferably the ends of all data cables, are also molded onto the housing. Once this has been done, the electronics can be inserted into the interior of the housing, which may consist of two or more parts, and electrically connected to the data cables.The same applies if not only the ends of a given or all data cables are overmolded by the housing of the input / output device, but also if at least one housing of a participant is overmolded extending over the end of the data cable to which the participant is connected.

[0020] An embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising an input-output device, is described below and explained with reference to the single figure.

[0021] An arrangement 1, as detailed, comprises an input-output device 2. This device 2 has a housing to which at least two data cables 3, 4 are connected. The device 2 is connected to a higher-level control unit (not shown) via one data cable 3 and to a connected device via the data cable 4, so that data is exchanged between the higher-level control unit and the at least one connected device via the device 2. Such input-output devices 2 are generally known and are also referred to as distribution modules, I / O hubs, or I / O devices (I: Input, O: Output). For the basic design and operation of such devices, reference is also made, for example, to the aforementioned utility model DE 93 05 529 U1.

[0022] In the embodiment shown in the single figure, in addition to data cables 3 and 4, further data cables 5 to 7 extend from the housing of the device 2. A first participant 8 is connected to data cable 3, and a participant 9 is connected to data cable 4. Naturally, further participants are connected to the additional data cables 5 to 7, but these are not shown for the sake of simplicity.

[0023] In principle, each participant can be a connector, a sensor, an actuator, or the like. In the embodiment shown in the figure, participant 8 is designed as a connector via which the arrangement 1 can be detachably connected to the higher-level control unit (not shown).

[0024] According to the invention, the housing of the device 2, which is provided with the reference numeral 10, is covered in the area of ​​an interface 11, in which the data cable 3 is led out of the housing 10, a short distance over the end of the data cable 3, more precisely its outer sheath, by means of a plastic injection molding process, so that a media-tight and inseparable connection is created between the data cable 3 and the housing 10 of the device 2 in the area of ​​the interface 11.

[0025] Such a media density and inseparable connection can also be realized in the area of ​​an interface 12, where the other end of the data cable 3 is led into the housing of the subscriber 8.

[0026] A similar media-tight and permanent connection can also be realized in the area of ​​an interface 13, where one end of the data cable 4 is led out of the housing 10 of the device 2. The same can also apply to interfaces where the data cables 5 and / or 6 and / or 7 and / or more or fewer data cables are led out of the housing 10 of the device 2.

[0027] As with participant 8, the end of the data cable 4, which is fed into the housing of participant 9, can be made media-tight and permanently sealed by overmolding in the area of ​​an interface 14 located there.

[0028] In a particularly advantageous manner, all interfaces 11, 12, 13 and the other interfaces at both ends of the respective data cables 5 to 7 are implemented in a media-tight and permanently sealed manner by overmolding.

[0029] Of course, not all of these interfaces need to be made media-tight and permanently sealed by overmolding with plastic; some of the interfaces can also be designed as plug connections, for example as screw-in connectors, as is known in the prior art. Reference symbol list

[0030] 1. Arrangement 2. Input / Output Device 3. Data Cable 4. Data Cable 5. Data Cable 6. Data Cable 7. Data Cable 8. Participant 9. Participant 10. Housing 11. Interface 12. Interface 13. Interface 14. Interface

Claims

1. Arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected to its associated interface (11, 13), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is a housing produced using a plastic injection-moulding process and at least one respective end region of the data cable (3, 4) is surrounded by the housing.

2. Arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected to its associated interface (11, 13), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is produced from a metal material and in that an inner region of the housing is potted with a plastic material, wherein the plastic material extends over at least the respective end region of the data cable (3, 4).

3. Arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected to its associated interface (11, 13), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is produced from plastic and in that an inner region of the housing is potted with a plastic material, wherein the plastic material extends over at least the respective end region of the data cable (3, 4).

4. Arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a housing of at least one of the subscribers (8, 9) is injection-moulded onto an end region of its associated data cable (3, 4).

5. Arrangement (1) according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that all data cables (3, 4) are surrounded by the housing of the input / output device (2) and the housings of all subscribers (8, 9) are injection-moulded onto the end region of their respectively associated data cable (3, 4).

6. Method for producing an arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected at its associated interface (11, 13) to the finished input / output device (2), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is produced using a plastic injection-moulding process and a respective end region of the data cable (3, 4) is thus also surrounded by the housing.

7. Method for producing an arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected to its associated interface (11, 13), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is produced from a metal material and in that an inner region of the housing is potted with a plastic material, wherein the plastic material extends over at least the respective end region of the data cable (3, 4).

8. Method for producing an arrangement (1) for distributing data, comprising an input / output device (2) having at least two interfaces (11, 13) for transmitting data between subscribers (8, 9) connected to the interfaces (11, 13), wherein data cables (3, 4) are provided, via which the respective subscriber (8, 9) is connected to its associated interface (11, 13), characterized in that a housing of the input / output device (2) is produced from plastic and in that an inner region of the housing is potted with a plastic material, wherein the plastic material extends over at least the respective end region of the data cable (3, 4).

9. Method according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that a housing of at least one of the subscribers (8, 9) is injection-moulded onto an end region of its associated data cable (3, 4).

10. Method according to Claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the housings of all subscribers (8, 9) are injection-moulded onto the end region of their respectively associated data cable (3, 4).