Rail system for distributing power and data signals

• US 20050067181A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Brandt, David D., Shen, Jie, Jensen, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,049,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 11/12 with isolation by horizontal withdrawal

Abstract

Transmission of electrical signals can be conducted over a rail. The rail, which may be an at least partially open rail structure, may be disposed within an enclosure, and can be used to transmit data and power signals to an assembly of electrical components. A connector assembly may also be provided to facilitate the transmission of data and power signals between the components and the rail.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled).

14. A rail system for transmitting power and data signals comprising:

an insulative support;

first and second power conductors supported lengthwise on the support via an elongate support edge and configured to conduct electrical power; and

first and second data conductors supported lengthwise on the support via an elongate support edge and configured to conduct electrical power; and

and disposed between the power conductors and configured to transmit data signals;

wherein each of the power and data conductors presents a respective elongate connection edge opposite the respective support edge, the connection edges being generally aligned for receiving respective connector elements.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the power conductors at least partially shield the data conductors from electromagnetic interference.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one capacitor coupled across the power conductors.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second set of power conductors supported lengthwise on the support at cross sectional outermost positions on either side of the first and second power conductors.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the conductors are uninsulated conductive rails.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first and second data conductors are spaced from one another by a first, substantially constant predetermined distance.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first and second power conductors are spaced from respective data conductors by a second, substantially constant predetermined distance.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first predetermined distance is equal to the second predetermined distance.

22. A rail system for transmitting power and data signals comprising:

an insulative support;

a first set of power conductors supported lengthwise on the support and configured to conduct electrical power;

a second set of power conductors supported lengthwise on the support and configured to conduct electrical power; and

first and second data conductors supported lengthwise on the support and configured to transmit data signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein if the first set of power conductors are identified as A and B, the second set of power conductors are identified as C and D, and the data conductors are identified as E and F, the conductors are disposed cross-sectionally on the support in the order A, C, E, F, D, B.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein conductors A and B are configured to transmit ac power.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein conductors C and D are configured to transmit dc power.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein if the first set of power conductors are identified as A and B, the second set of power conductors are identified as C and D, and the data conductors are identified as E and F, the conductors are disposed cross sectionally on the support in the order A, E, C, D, F, B.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein conductors A and B are configured to transmit ac power.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein conductors C and D are configured to transmit dc power.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising a first capacitor coupled across the first set of power conductors.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a second capacitor coupled across the second set of power conductors.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the conductors are disposed at substantially equal spacing across the support.

32. An open rail system for transmitting power and data signals comprising:

an insulative support;

first and second data conductors supported lengthwise on the support and configured to transmit data signals;

a first set of power conductors supported lengthwise on the support at positions flanking the data conductors and configured to conduct electrical power;

a second set of power conductors supported lengthwise on the support at positions flanking respective power conductors of the first set and configured to conduct electrical power; and

a capacitor coupled across the first set of power conductors.

33. The system of claim 32, further comprising a second capacitor coupled across the second set of power conductors.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the first set of power conductors transmits dc power.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the second set of power conductors transmits ac power.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the first set of power conductors transmits ac power.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the second set of power conductors transmits dc power.