Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable – Including connector housing surrounding cable
Patent
1992-03-09
1994-01-11
McGlynn, Joseph H.
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with tape cable
Including connector housing surrounding cable
H01R 1300
Patent
active
052776220
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses generally an electric connecting device for electrically controlled fluid valves, and more specifically pilot valves connected to a corresponding number of main valves in a modular valve array. Each pilot valve has equally placed contact pins, normally three contact pins, which are to be connected to an inter-connecting cable with a plurality of conductors via an electric connecting module. By "a corresponding number" is meant either that each main valve (in particular a pneumatic, directional valve) has a single pilot valve or that at least two pilot valves are mounted on each main valve for controlling the function thereof.
In a known connecting device of a similar kind, the connecting modules are contained in a special plug-in-unit, which is mechanically fixed to the main valves and contains electrical connections, which are connected to the contact pins of the pilot valves in a predetermined manner. Thus, a plug-in-unit of this kind must be adapted to the dimensions of a particular valve array and the number of valves therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of this invention is to achieve a flexible connecting device, which can be adjusted to different valve arrays in a simple manner, whereby the electrical as well as the mechanical connection can be varied in a simple manner and whereby the electrical as well as the mechanical connection can be varied by simple means as desired.
This aim is achieved according to the invention with a connecting device comprising a plug-in module having a coupling plate provided with contact sockets sized and arranged for direct connection to contact pins of an associated fluid valve, a multipolar contact means connectable to one of said multipolar cable contact means, a number of multipolar cable contact means interconnected between flexible positions of the multi-conductor cable, and a number of plug-in modules to be mounted onto a respective one of the fluid valves and electrically connectable to said multipolar cable contact means. The device further includes an array of interruptable electric connections, in particular contact bridges, between the multipolar contact means and the contact sockets. Hereby, the respective plug-in module is programmable for achieving a selectable connection between the contact pins of the associated fluid valve and specific conductors of the inter-connecting cable. The latter is preferably comprised of a flat cable and facilitates a desired electric series connection of the pilot valves irrespective of their relative order and distance. Thus, the connecting device according to the invention may be adjusted in a very simple way to the valve array in question, i.e. to different mechanical constructional details (type, number, relative distance, etc.), as well as to different electric coupling arrangements (by exchanging the coupling plate or selectively controlling the contact bridges of the respective coupling plate).
Further advantageous features will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, reference being made to the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a valve array and (in an exploded view) the different parts of an electric connecting device, according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the valve array of FIG. 1 with the electric connecting devices being completely mounted; and
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The valve array shown in FIG. 1 comprises a number (in this case five) of serially connected, pneumatic main valves 1-5 being part of a compact control system. The valves 1-5 are mounted on supporting, mutually fastened (by screw fasteners, not shown) mounting plates 6-10, with a common inlet 11 for pressurized air and likewise common outlet ports 12, 13 (connected to a connecting portion 14 which is only shown in FIG. 2). The mounting plates 6-10 are at the underside (not shown), provided with inlet and outlet ports connected e.g. to pneumatic
REFERENCES:
patent: 3102767 (1963-09-01), Schneck
patent: 3230498 (1966-01-01), Keys
patent: 3731254 (1973-05-01), Key
patent: 4257028 (1981-03-01), Narozny et al.
Liljenberg Anders
Pettersson Hans
AB Rexroth Mecman
McGlynn Joseph H.
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