Recessed Setting Components in Safety Switching Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Safety switching devices in the industrial sector face challenges in reducing size while maintaining stability and safety, as some electromechanical components are difficult to replace with purely electronic elements due to lack of availability, stability, or safety suitability, leading to limited housing width and increased manufacturing effort.
Innovation Solution
A safety switching device with an electrical circuit on a printed circuit board and a recessed setting component that adjusts operating parameters, allowing for reduced housing width and increased stability through the use of larger electromechanical components, while reusing proven components and simplifying manufacturing and testing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If purely electronic elements are used to reduce housing width, then device size is reduced, but stability and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The setting component is arranged recessed on the printed circuit board, utilizing the third dimension (depth) rather than expanding the housing width. The housing of the adjusting element intersects the mounting plane of the PCB, allowing the component to be embedded into the board structure. This dimensional transition enables the use of larger electromechanical components without increasing the device's footprint, thereby maintaining stability and safety while minimizing housing width.
2Reliability
If larger electromechanical components are used to maintain stability, then housing width increases, but device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The setting component is nested within the printed circuit board structure. The housing of the adjusting element is arranged recessed on the PCB such that it intersects the mounting plane, effectively embedding the component into the board. This nesting approach allows larger electromechanical components to be integrated without increasing the overall housing width, as the component utilizes the internal volume of the PCB structure rather than occupying additional lateral space.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional setting components are used on the surface of the PCB, then manufacturing is simpler, but housing width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The setting component is transitioned from a surface-mounted configuration to a recessed configuration on the PCB. By arranging the housing of the adjusting element such that it intersects the mounting plane, the component is embedded into the board structure. This dimensional change enables the use of larger components for stability while maintaining a compact housing width, and the recessed arrangement can be integrated into standard PCB manufacturing processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety switching device for controlling a load having at least one input for receiving an input signal and one output for outputting an output signal, and having an electrical circuit which provides the output signal as a function of the input signal. The electrical circuit is arranged on a printed circuit board and is coupled to at least one setting component for setting an operating parameter of the safety switching device. The surface of the printed circuit board defines a mounting plane, and the at least one setting component has an adjusting element in a housing and is arranged recessed on the printed circuit board so that the housing of the adjusting element intersects the mounting plane.