Solenoid valve manifold

Abstract

A solenoid valve manifold 10 has: a wiring block 26 that is provided with a connector; a pedestal block 27 that is disposed on a solenoid valve assembly; a support pin 32 that is provided to a supporting wall 31 provided to the pedestal block 27; a support hole 33 that turnably supports the wiring block 26; an operation part 43 that is provided at the tip of leg portions 42 which are provided to each of end wall sections 34 at both ends of the wiring block; a locking protrusion 44 that is provided to each operation part 43; locking recesses 45 that are provided to the pedestal block 27 and that lock onto the locking protrusions 44 when the connector 25 is held in an upright position; and locking recesses 46 that lock onto the locking protrusions 44 when the connector 25 is held in a horizontal position.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solenoid valve manifold including a solenoid valve assembly formed by assembling a plurality of solenoid valves. [Background technology]

[0002] A type of solenoid valve in which multiple solenoid valves are assembled and mounted on a support member is called a solenoid valve manifold or manifold solenoid valve. Each solenoid valve is formed by a main valve block provided with a main valve shaft for switching the flow path, and a solenoid block attached to the main valve block. There are two types of solenoid valve manifolds: integrated and separate. The integrated type is a type in which the assembled solenoid valves are mounted on a single manifold block. The separate type is a type in which each solenoid valve is mounted on a manifold block of the same thickness as the solenoid valve, and multiple manifold blocks are assembled together, and multiple solenoid valves are assembled together. In the integrated type, the manifold block forms the support member. In the separate type, the main valve block and the solenoid block are mounted on a manifold block provided with an output port, and the manifold block is mounted on a DIN rail as a support member. In either type, multiple solenoid valves are assembled to form a solenoid valve assembly.

[0003] The main valve shaft is driven by a drive signal supplied to the solenoid in each solenoid block, and the main valve shaft switches the flow path of the fluid discharged to the output port. Lead wires connected to the solenoids are connected to connectors provided on the wiring block. The wiring block is disposed adjacent to a solenoid valve assembly consisting of multiple solenoid valves.

[0004] In such solenoid valve manifolds, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there are some in which the orientation of the connector can be switched between an upward position in which the connector faces upward from the solenoid valve, and a horizontal position in which the connector faces horizontally, depending on the installation location, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-301961 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-98914 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the solenoid valve manifold of Patent Document 1, a connector is attached to a housing, and the housing is attached to a block cover of a wiring block so as to be freely movable between an upward position and a sideways position. Support shafts protrude from both end faces of the housing, and the support shafts are freely movable in guide grooves formed in the block cover. Flexures are provided on both side faces of the housing, and each flexure is provided with a locking protrusion. A first locking hole and a second locking hole with which the locking protrusions engage are formed in the block cover.

[0007] To switch the connector, i.e., the housing, from a sideways position to an upward position, the flexible portion is deformed to release the engagement between the locking protrusion and the first locking hole, and the support shaft is moved along the horizontal portion of the guide groove to move the housing laterally. Next, after the connector is rotated to the upward position, the support shaft is moved along the vertical portion of the guide groove to engage the locking protrusion with the second locking hole. When the connector is switched from the upward position to a sideways position, the locking protrusion is engaged with the first locking hole by reversing the procedure.

[0008] As described above, the electromagnetic manifold described in Patent Document 1 requires four steps: deforming the flexible portion to disengage the locking protrusion from the locking hole, rotating the connector, sliding the support shaft, and engaging the locking protrusion with another locking hole, making the connector switching operation complicated.

[0009] In the solenoid valve manifold of Patent Document 2, a connector is attached to a connector housing, and the connector housing is mounted on a support base so as to be freely switched between an upward posture and a sideways posture. A first support shaft and a second support shaft protrude from both end walls of the connector housing, the first support shaft is provided on a flexible piece constituting an end wall portion of the connector housing, and the second support shaft is supported by an upright portion provided on the support base. A protrusion is provided on the flexible piece at a position away from the first support shaft, and a first fitting hole that holds the connector in a sideways posture by engaging with the protrusion, and a second fitting hole that engages with the protrusion when the connector is held in an upward posture are formed in the end wall portion of the support base.

[0010] In this solenoid valve manifold, a convex portion is provided on the flexible piece provided with the first support shaft, and the protruding amount of the convex portion is set to be shorter than the protruding amount of the first support shaft. The first support shaft is pushed in to deform the flexible piece, thereby releasing the engagement between the convex portion and the fitting hole, and the position of the connector is switched. In this way, in order to release the engagement between the convex portion and the fitting hole by bending the flexible piece provided with the first support shaft, the small-diameter first support shaft must be pushed in, which is difficult to operate. Moreover, the flexible piece on one side constituting one end wall of the connector housing is bent, and the first support shaft must be pushed in largely with the fingertips, and further, the first support shaft must be pushed in with one hand and the connector must be rotated with the other hand. Therefore, when rotating the connector, the operation of bending the flexible piece to release the engagement between the convex portion and the fitting hole is not easy to operate.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to improve the ease of operation of switching the position of a connector of a solenoid valve manifold. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The solenoid valve manifold of the present invention is a solenoid valve manifold including a solenoid valve assembly formed by assembling a plurality of solenoid valves, and includes a wiring block including a connector electrically connected to the solenoid valves, a base block formed with an accommodation space for accommodating the wiring block and disposed on the solenoid valve assembly, fixed fitting portions provided on a support wall of the base block facing each other across the accommodation space, and fixed fitting portions provided on end wall portions at both ends of the wiring block and fitted to the fixed fitting portions to hold the wiring between an upward holding position where the connector faces upward and a horizontal holding position where the connector faces horizontally. the wiring block is supported rotatably by a rotation fitting portion; an operating portion provided at the tip of elastically deformable legs provided at both end wall portions of the wiring block and displaceable in directions in which the wiring block moves toward and away from the other; an operating engagement portion provided at the operating portion; an upward engagement portion provided at the base block and engaging with the operating engagement portion when the connector is held in an upward position; and a lateral engagement portion provided at the base block and engaging with the operating engagement portion when the connector is held in a lateral position; and the operating portions can be brought closer to each other to release the engagement of the operating engagement portions and rotate the wiring block. The upward engaging portion and the lateral engaging portion are respectively engaging recesses, the operation engaging portion is an engaging protrusion that engages with the engaging recesses, the engaging protrusion has a first protrusion that protrudes from a bottom surface of the operation portion toward the bottom surface of the wiring block, and a second protrusion that protrudes from a bottom surface of the first protrusion toward the bottom surface of the wiring block, and the engaging recess has a first engaging recess formed by cutting out an upper surface and a support wall of the base block, and a second engaging recess formed by cutting out an outer side surface and a support wall of the base block. . Effect of the Invention

[0013] When switching the wiring block from an upward orientation to a horizontal orientation, or from a horizontal orientation to an upward orientation, the operator grasps both operating parts with the fingers of one hand to disengage the operating engagement part from the upward engagement part or the horizontal engagement part. Since disengagement and rotation of the wiring block can be performed while still grasping the operating parts, the connector's orientation can be easily switched, improving switching operability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electromagnetic valve manifold according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2]1A is an oblique view showing the wiring block and base block when the connector is held in an upward position, and FIG. 1B is an oblique view showing the wiring block and base block when the connector is held in a horizontal position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a wiring block and a base block are separated from each other. [Figure 4] 4A is a view taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B in FIG. [Diagram 5] 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5A-5A in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5B-5B in FIG. 4A. [Figure 6] 2A, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6B-6B in (A). [Figure 7] 2(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7B-7B in FIG. 2(A). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The solenoid valve manifold 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a solenoid valve assembly 12 consisting of six solenoid valves 11, and each solenoid valve 11 has a main valve block 13 and a solenoid block 14 attached thereto. The main valve block 13 is attached to a manifold block 15, and each manifold block 15 is attached to a support member 16 also called a DIN rail. The main valve block 13 and the solenoid block 14 form a solenoid valve, and the solenoid valve assembly 12 formed by assembling the six solenoid valves 11 is attached to the support rail by the manifold block 15. The six manifold blocks 15, which are the same number as the number of solenoid valves 11, form an assembly of manifold blocks. Note that the number of solenoid valves 11 constituting the solenoid valve assembly 12 in FIG. 1 is one example, and the solenoid valve manifold 10 can be assembled with any number of solenoid valves 11 as long as there are multiple solenoid valves.

[0016] Piping blocks 17a, 17b are abutted against both ends of solenoid valve assembly 12, and piping blocks 17a, 17b are attached to support member 16 by end blocks 18a, 18b. A supply port 21 and a discharge port 22, each made of a coupling member, are provided in piping blocks 17a, 17b. A pipe connected to an air supply source (not shown) is connected to supply port 21, and a discharge pipe is connected to discharge port 22. Two output ports 23, 24, each made of a coupling member, are provided on the front side of manifold block 15, and each output port 23, 24 is connected to pneumatically operated equipment by piping.

[0017] Manifold block 15 is formed with supply holes and discharge holes (not shown). A main valve shaft (not shown) is assembled inside main valve block 13. The main valve shaft switches the flow path between a position where a supply hole formed in manifold block 15 is connected to one output port 23 to supply compressed air to output port 23, and a position where the supply hole is connected to the other output port 24 to supply compressed air to output port 24. When the supply hole is connected to output port 23, output port 24 is connected to the discharge hole. When the supply hole is connected to output port 24, output port 23 is connected to the discharge hole.

[0018] Since two piping blocks 17a, 17b are provided, compressed air can be supplied to the supply hole from two supply ports 21, but it is also possible to provide only one of the two piping blocks 17a, 17b.

[0019] A solenoid, i.e., a coil (not shown), is built into the solenoid block 14. Compressed air is supplied from a supply hole to the main valve shaft by a drive signal supplied to the solenoid, and the main valve shaft is driven in the axial direction. Thus, the solenoid valve 11 is an indirectly operated type having a pilot solenoid valve.

[0020] Each coil is electrically connected to the connector 25 by a lead wire or a board (not shown). This electrically connects each solenoid valve 11 to the connector 25. When a cable connector connected to a controller (not shown) is attached to the connector 25, a connection terminal of the cable connector is connected to a connection terminal provided on the connector 25, and the solenoid valve 11 and the controller are electrically connected via the connector 25.

[0021] The wiring block 26 is mounted on a base block 27 which is attached to the end block 18a. The base block 27 is attached to the end block 18a and is disposed at one end of the solenoid valve assembly 12 via the end block 18a. To mount the base block 27 to the end block 18a, a mounting hole 28 is provided in the base block 27 and a screw member is mounted in the mounting hole 28. The screw member is inserted from the outer side surface of the base block 27 and protrudes from the inner side surface, and is screwed into the end block 18a.

[0022] The wiring block 26 is attached to the base block 27 so as to be rotatable between an upward holding position where the connector 25 faces upward, and a horizontal holding position where the connector 25 faces horizontally. The upward position of the connector 25 is a position where the connector 25 protrudes from the surface opposite to the bottom surface where the solenoid valve 11 is attached to the support member 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The horizontal position of the connector 25 is a position where the connector 25 protrudes on an extension of the end of the solenoid valve assembly 12.

[0023] As described above, the member on which the connector 25 is provided is the wiring block 26, and the member that rotatably supports the wiring block 26 and is attached to the solenoid valve assembly 12 via the end block 18a and the like is the base block 27.

[0024] Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view showing the wiring block 26 and the base block 27 in a state where the connector 25 is held in an upward position, and Fig. 2(B) is a perspective view showing the wiring block 26 and the base block 27 in a state where the connector 25 is held in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the wiring block 26 and the base block 27 in a separated state.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the base block 27 has a base portion 27a extending in the longitudinal direction and end portions 27b and 27c, and is molded from resin. As shown in Fig. 3, an accommodation space 29 is provided between the end portions 27b and 27c. A support wall 31 is provided at the end portion 27b of the base block 27, and a support wall 31 is also provided at the other end portion 27c, as shown in Figs. 6(B) and 7(B). Both support walls 31 face each other via the accommodation space 29. A support pin 32 is provided on each support wall 31 as a fixed fitting portion, and the support pin 32 protrudes from the support wall 31 toward the accommodation space 29.

[0026] The wiring block 26 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is molded from resin. The connector 25 attached to the wiring block 26 protrudes from the connector arrangement surface 26a of the wiring block 26. Support holes 33 into which the support pins 32 are fitted are provided in the end wall portions 34 at both ends of the wiring block 26 as rotating fitting portions. The support pins 32 of the base block 27 are fitted into or interlocked with each other in the support holes 33, so that the wiring block 26 is rotatably supported by the base block 27. As a result, the wiring block 26 can be rotated approximately 90 degrees between an upward holding position in which the connector 25 faces upward as shown in FIG. 2(A) and a horizontal holding position in which the connector 25 faces horizontally as shown in FIG. 2(B).

[0027] Fig. 4(A) is an enlarged view taken along line 4A-4A in Fig. 3, and Fig. 4(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B in Fig. 3. Fig. 5(A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5A-5A in Fig. 4(A), and Fig. 5(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5B-5B in Fig. 4(A).

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4B, an engagement claw 30 is provided so as to protrude from the inner side surface of the base block 27, and the engagement claw 30 is engaged with an engagement hole (not shown) provided in the end block 18a.

[0029] 4, two slits 35 are provided in two mutually opposing support walls 31 of base block 27, each opening into the inner side surface of base block 27. The portion between slits 35 forms elastic deformation portion 36, and support pin 32 serving as a fixed fitting portion is provided in elastic deformation portion 36. The elastic deformation portion 36 displaces at its tip side with the outer side surface of base block 27 as its base end, thereby changing the distance between the two support pins 32.

[0030] Meanwhile, support holes 33 serving as pivot fitting portions are provided in end wall portions 34 at both ends of wiring block 26. As shown in Fig. 5(A), end wall portions 34 in which support holes 33 are provided are molded to be continuous with connector arrangement surface 26a and therefore do not elastically deform.

[0031] In this manner, since the support pins 32 are provided in the elastic deformation portions 36 and the support holes 33 are provided in the end wall portions 34, when the wiring block 26 is inserted into the accommodation space 29 of the base block 27, the elastic deformation portions 36 are deformed and the support pins 32 fit into the support holes 33. This makes it possible to easily assemble the wiring block 26 to the base block 27. Also, since the elastic deformation portions 36 cannot be deformed when the base block 27 is assembled to the end block 18a, it is possible to prevent the wiring block 26 and the base block 27 from being erroneously separated.

[0032] It is also possible to provide support holes 33 as fixed fitting portions in place of the support pins 32 in the elastically deforming portions 36 of the base block 27, and provide support pins 32 as rotatable fitting portions in place of the support holes 33 in the end wall portions 34 of the wiring block 26. In this manner, the wiring block 26 is also supported by the base block 27 so as to be freely rotatable.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4(A), two slits 37 are provided in the end wall portion 34, and slits 41 are provided along the outer sides of the slits 37. The portion between the two slits 37, 41 is a leg portion 42 that is elastically deformable, and two legs 42 are provided in the end wall portion 34, and as shown in Fig. 5(B), they are separated from the connector arrangement surface 26a. Similar legs 42 are provided on the end wall portion 34 on the opposite side of Fig. 4(A). An operating portion 43 is provided at the tip of the leg portion 42 to connect the two legs 42, and the operating portion 43 protrudes outside the base block 27 as shown in Fig. 2.

[0034] The operation units 43 provided at both ends of the wiring block 26 are provided at the tips of the elastically deformable legs 42 so as to protrude from the connector arrangement surface 26a of the wiring block 26, so that an operator can grasp the two operation units 43 with his / her fingers. The two operation units 43 are displaceable in directions in which they move toward or away from each other, and can be displaced by the fingers in directions in which they move toward each other, and when the fingers are released from the operation units 43, the operation units 43 are displaced in directions in which they move away from each other.

[0035] An engaging protrusion 44 is provided on the operating portion 43 as an operation engaging portion. As shown in FIG. 4(A), the engaging protrusion 44 protrudes from the bottom surface 43a of the operating portion 43 toward the bottom surface of the wiring block 26, and as shown in FIG. 5(A), it protrudes outward in the longitudinal direction of the wiring block 26 beyond the end wall portion 34. The engaging protrusion 44 has a first protrusion 44a and a second protrusion 44b. The first protrusion 44a protrudes from the operating portion 43 toward the bottom surface of the wiring block 26. The second protrusion 44b protrudes from the bottom surface 44c of the first protrusion 44a toward the bottom surface of the wiring block 26. The width of the first protrusion 44a is larger than that of the second protrusion 44b. Meanwhile, an engaging recess 45 is provided at the upper end of both support walls 31 of the base block 27 by cutting out the upper surfaces of the support walls 31 and the base block 27 as an upward engaging portion with which the engaging protrusion 44 engages, i.e., hooks. Furthermore, an engagement recess 46 is provided on the outer side surface of the support wall 31 by cutting out the outer side surfaces of the support wall 31 and the base block 27 as a lateral engagement portion with which the engagement protrusion 44 engages.

[0036] Let the distance from the center of the support hole 33, that is, the rotation axis, to the bottom surface 43a of the operation part 43 be D1, the distance from the center of the support hole 33 to the bottom surface 44c of the first convex part 44a be D2, the distance from the center of the support pin 32 to the upper surface where the first engagement recess 45 opens be L1, and the distance from the center of the support pin 32 to the outer side surface where the first engagement recess opens be L2. Then, L2 < D2 < L1 < D1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the first engagement recess 45 as the upward engagement part engages with the first convex part 44a when the connector 25 is held in the upward position. The second engagement recess 46 as the lateral engagement part engages with the second convex part 44b when the connector 25 is held in the lateral position, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2(A) and 6, when switching the posture from the state where the connector 25 is in the upward posture and the wiring block 26 is held by the pedestal block 27 to the state where the connector 25 is in the lateral posture and the wiring block 26 is held by the pedestal block 27 as shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 7, the operator grips the two operation parts 43 with one hand and displaces them in the direction in which the operation parts 43 approach each other. Thereby, the first convex part 44a separates from the engagement recess 45 and the wiring block 26 becomes a state where it can rotate around the support pin 32. In this state, the wiring block 26 can be rotated from the upward posture to the lateral posture while holding the operation part 43.

[0038] With the wiring block 26 rotated to the lateral posture, when the finger holding the operation part 43 is released from the operation part 43, the second convex part 44b engages with the engagement recess 46 as the lateral engagement part by the elastic force of the leg part 42. Thereby, the wiring block 26 is held in the lateral posture. On the other hand, when switching the wiring block 26 from the lateral posture to the upward posture, the operation part 43 is also gripped with the finger of one hand and displaced in the direction in which the operation parts 43 approach each other. Thereby, the engagement between the second convex part 44b and the engagement recess 46 is released. Then, the posture can be changed by rotating the wiring block 26 while holding the operation part 43.

[0039] In this way, in the above-described solenoid valve manifold 10, the operator can disengage the operation engagement parts and rotate the wiring block while holding the two operation parts 43 with his fingers, thereby improving the operability of the attitude switching operation of the connector 25.

[0040] Instead of the engaging protrusions 44 provided at the tips of the legs 42 of the wiring block 26, engaging recesses may be provided as connector engaging portions, and engaging recesses 45, 46 provided in the support wall 31 of the base block 27 may be used as engaging protrusions serving as an upward engaging portion and a horizontal engaging portion, respectively. In this manner, the wiring block 26 can be held in either the upward or horizontal position.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the solenoid valve manifold in one embodiment is a separate type in which a manifold block is attached to each solenoid valve, and the manifold block is also an assembly, but the above-described wiring block can also be applied to an integrated solenoid valve manifold in which a single manifold block is equipped with multiple solenoid valves. In addition, the solenoid valves to be mounted can be of a direct actuation type. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] 2. Description of the Related Art Solenoid valve manifolds are used in technical fields using pneumatically operated equipment to control the supply of compressed air to the pneumatically operated equipment.

Claims

1. A solenoid valve manifold including a solenoid valve assembly formed by assembling a plurality of solenoid valves, a wiring block including a connector electrically connected to the solenoid valve; a base block having an accommodating space for accommodating the wiring block and disposed on the solenoid valve assembly; fixed fitting portions provided on a support wall of the base block so as to face each other across the accommodation space; a rotating fitting portion provided on each end wall portion of the wiring block and fitted into the fixed fitting portion to rotatably support the wiring block between an upward holding position in which the connector faces upward and a horizontal holding position in which the connector faces horizontally; an operating portion provided at the tip of a leg portion that is elastically deformable and provided at both end wall portions of the wiring block, the operating portion being displaceable in directions in which the operating portion moves toward and away from the other; An operation engagement portion provided on the operation portion; the base block has an upward engaging portion that engages with the operation engaging portion when the connector is held in an upward position, and a lateral engaging portion that engages with the operation engaging portion when the connector is held in a lateral position, The operation parts are brought close to each other to release the engagement of the operation engagement part and rotate the wiring block, the upward engaging portion and the lateral engaging portion are engaging recesses, and the operational engaging portion is an engaging protrusion that engages with the engaging recesses, an electromagnetic valve manifold, wherein the engaging convex portion has a first convex portion protruding from a bottom surface of the operating portion toward the bottom surface of the wiring block, and a second convex portion protruding from the bottom surface of the first convex portion toward the bottom surface of the wiring block, and the engaging recess portion has a first engaging recess formed by cutting out an upper surface and a support wall of the base block, and a second engaging recess formed by cutting out an outer side surface and a support wall of the base block.

2. 2. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 1, the fixed fitting portion is a support pin protruding from the support wall, and the rotating fitting portion is a support hole into which the support pin is fitted.

3. 2. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 1, wherein a width of the first protrusion is greater than a width of the second protrusion.

4. 2. An electromagnetic valve manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein, where D1 is the distance from a pivot shaft to the bottom surface of the operating portion, D2 is the distance from the pivot shaft to the bottom surface of the first convex portion, L1 is the distance from the pivot shaft to the top surface on which the first engagement recess opens, and L2 is the distance from the pivot shaft to the outer side surface on which the first engagement recess opens, the following relationship holds: L2<D2<L1<D1.

5. 5. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 1, wherein the wiring block has a connector arrangement surface from which the connector protrudes, a gap is formed between the leg portion and the connector arrangement surface, and the end wall portion is formed continuous with the connector arrangement surface.

6. 3. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 1, an elastic deformation portion provided on the support wall, and a rotating fitting portion provided on the end wall portion, and when the wiring block is attached to the base block, the elastic deformation portion is elastically deformed to allow the fixed fitting portion and the rotating fitting portion to fit together.

7. 3. The solenoid valve manifold according to claim 1, The solenoid valve includes a main valve block provided with a main valve shaft for switching a flow path, and a solenoid block attached to the main valve block, The solenoid valve is attached to a manifold block having an output port, An electromagnetic valve manifold, in which an assembly of the manifold blocks is attached to a support member.

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