Field device of modular construction

• US 10,921,867 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2018
• Issued: 02/16/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: robodev GmbH
• Original Assignee: robodev GmbH
• Inventors: Bihlmaier, Andreas, Mintenbeck, Julien, Liedke, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Sul, Stephen S
• Application Number:
  US16/605,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20200125147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 361600, 36167902, 361709, 361720, 361728, 361730, 361752
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1462 for programmable logic controllers [PLC] for automation or industrial process control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1465 Modular PLC assemblies with separable functional units

Abstract

A field device for automation technology is accommodated in a housing which is produced from a polygonal profile and, for its part, is closed by a base plate and a cover plate. A base module is connected to the base plate, the base module being provided in a manner designed in the same way in all devices of a field bus, in order to manage the tasks of voltage supply and network connection. A functional module, which is optionally connected to the cover plate, provides the field device with one or more specific functionalities, and therefore configures the field device in a specific direction. This results in a unit of modular construction which, together with other identical field devices of different configuration, can be joined in accordance with the construction kit principle to form an automation system.

Claims

1. A modular field device for operation on a field bus, comprising:

a housing (1) with a base module (9) which has a computing unit (10) for process control;

a communication interface (13), which is data-connected to the computing unit (10), for connection to a local communication network of an automation environment of the modular field device; and

an electrical interface (12), which is electrically connected to a voltage supply (11) of the computing unit (10), for connection to a local voltage network;

wherein a functional module (7) is assigned to the housing (1), which has at least one functional element (8) which is data-connected to the computing unit (10) and electrically connected to the electrical interface (12), so that both communication via the field bus and the voltage supply of the computing unit (10) is ensured;

wherein the functional element (8) is a motor, a sensor or a sensor arrangement, a lighting element, a camera, a working machine, an input element, a display or a loudspeaker; and

wherein the communication interface (13), which is data-connected to the computing unit (10), for connection to the local communication network and the electrical interface (12), which is electrically connected to a voltage supply (11) of the computing unit (10), for connection to the local voltage network are combined in a common hybrid interface (14);

wherein the housing (1) is designed as an elongated polygonal profile (4) which surrounds an inner cavity and into the inner cavity of which the base module (9), which is fastened to a base plate (2), projects at its end and closes said base module (9) by means of the base plate (2);

wherein the functional element (8) is fastened to a cover plate (3);

wherein the functional module (7) projects at its end into the inner cavity of the polygonal profile (4) and closes said polygonal profile (4) by means of the cover plate (3); and

wherein the polygonal profile (4) has on its circumferential wall at least one undercut longitudinal groove (5) into which a slot nut (23) can be inserted for fastening the modular field device to a supporting device (25), wherein a screw (24) can be screwed into the slot nut (23) and the housing can be fixed to the supporting device (25).

2. The modular field device according to claim 1,

wherein the housing (1) has a network interface (16), which is data-connected to the computing unit (10), for connection to an external communication network, and a mains connection (17), which is electrically connected to the voltage supply (11) of the computing unit (10), for connection to an external voltage network;

and

wherein a voltage converter (18) is electrically connected between the mains connection (17) and the voltage supply (11) of the computing unit (10).

3. The modular field device according to claim 1, wherein a microprocessor (19) of the base module (9) is thermally connected to the base plate (2) and/or the cover plate (3), and the base plate (2) and/or the cover plate (3) in turn is thermally conductively connected to the polygonal profile (4).

4. The modular field device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is assigned a microprocessor (19) which is connected to the polygonal profile (4) with the interposition of a heat-conducting layer (22).