Electro-pneumatic control device

• US 5,458,048 A
• Filed: 04/18/1994
• Issued: 10/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Festo AG & Company KG (Festo GmbH & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Festo AG (Festo SE & Company KG)
• Inventors: Hohner, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, F. Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US08/211,784
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 91/459, 91/508, 91/521, 91/DIG. 1, 137/884, 137/624.2
• US Class Current: 91/459
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/34 Protection against weather or dirt, e.g. against water ingress closures or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0814 Monoblock manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0832 Modular valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0853 Electric circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0857 Electrical connecting means, e.g. plugs, sockets
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0864 Signalling means, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0875 Channels for electrical components, e.g. for cables or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0889 Valves combined with electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/02 Servomotor systems with programme control derived from a store or timing device; Control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/085 using a data bus, e.g. "CANBUS"
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21098 Connect pc to machine, controller, module via serial port
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2231 Master slave
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24055 : Trace, store a working, operation history
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25311 : Each module near controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25312 : Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 : Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86461 : Variable cycle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87885 : Sectional block structure

Abstract

This is an electro-pneumatic control device which includes a valve station (2) designed similar to a subassembly. The valve station (2) is provided with a fluid conductor (4) which is equipped with a plurality of valves (12) and a central electronic control unit which is formed by a control block (19). The control block (19) is a direct component of the valve station (2),so that a external central control unit is eliminated.

Claims

1. An electro-pneumatic control device comprising:

a first valve station designed as a subassembly, said first valve station being provided with a first fluid distributor which is equipped with a plurality of first valve station valves;

a plurality of electrically actuable first valve station valve drives for said first valve station valves; and

a first central electronic control unit designed as a first control block, said first control block supplying first valve station electric actuating signals for the first valve station valve drives, said first control block being a direct component of said first valve station, said first control block containing a control program, said control program containing parameters to be considered for actuating at least said first valve station valve drives.

2. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first control block is designed as a detachable subassembly part of said first valve station.

3. A control device in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein:

said first control block is programmable; and

said control program is a variable programmable control program.

4. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first valve station is provided with at least one interface on said first control block for connection to a computer.

5. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said interface enables the connection of at least one of an indication and an operating device.

6. A control device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a field bus, said field bus being connectable to said first control block of said first valve station for coupling of said first valve station to at least one further operating station.

7. A control device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first control block forms a master-control unit from which the further operating station is controlled through said field bus.

8. A control device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said further operating station is a second valve station having a second control block connected with said master-control unit by said field bus.

9. A control device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said further operating station is a control blockless slave station provided with a field bus communication unit connected through said field bus to said first control block.

10. A control device in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of slave station valve drives on said slave station; and

means provided on said slave station for transmitting of slave station electric actuating signals between said field bus communication unit and said slave station valve drives.

11. A control device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a connecting means for connection of monitoring devices which communicate with said first control block.

12. A control device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a base plate for said first valve station, wherein said first control block is mounted on said base plate and said base plate is fixedly connected with said first fluid distributor.

13. A control device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said plurality of first valve station valves are mounted on a face of said base plate.

14. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first fluid distributor is formed as a base plate for said first valve station and said first control block is mounted on said base plate.

15. A control device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said plurality of first valve station valves are mounted on a face of said base plate.