Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-01-09
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S826000, C361S827000, C361S749000, C361S753000, C361S788000, C361S616000, C312S223200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to modular I/O electrical assemblies and more particularly to methods and devices for connecting I/O blocks into an I/O cabinet designed for containing a plurality of such blocks making the cabinet suitable for connection into a control system as one element thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art I/O cabinetry had block assemblies mounted therein which depended upon markings on the assemblies to insure a proper assembly of the I/O unit to its matching signal and power source in an I/O block cabinet having one side entry thereto. This caused some units to be damaged when they were connected in an improper sequence. Further, these connections were blind in some I/O modules making this sequencing a matter of guesswork. These blind connections were sometimes impossible when there was nonalignment of the I/O module and the power and signal connectors caused by tolerance buildup during the assembly of the case.
In prior art systems requiring the assembly of individual parts into a system or element of that system a schematic along with an instructional booklet is used. Such a procedure becomes especially burdensome when you begin assembly of electronic control systems such as block I/O cabinetry. These systems first require the assembly of processor blocks and I/O modules into an I/O assembly according to appropriately co-ordinated identical module functions and a further co-ordination of these modules having the same function for identical type of signal input. As an example, identical digital input-output processor blocks for temperature signals could be mismatched with digital input-output I/O modules for line voltage or pressure signals. The result would be at the least an inoperative system.
Similar problems occur in field wiring the processor blocks of I/O modules which can have up to 24 channels which require specific input or output signals co-oordinated to the I/O block which must be not only identified as inputs or outputs but must also be the right type of inputs or outputs as was explained above.
Thus an easily accessible I/O cabinet was needed which would provide easy access and mounting of I/O component modules from both sides of the cabinet and which allowed easy and foolproof assembly of such modules into the cabinet while preventing the application of signal inputs to the I/O modules before power was connected to the modules as well as providing such a sequential connection using a blind fit into an I/O module mounting area in the cabinetry.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the problems associated with prior art devices and others by providing a uniquely designed I/O module mounting cabinet having modules mounted on both sides thereof as well as unique modules which are made in two sections and are color coded for foolproof mounting in said cabinet to insure the proper electrical mount of I/O modules in the cabinet. The modules are also electrically connected therein so that power is first connected to the block I/O unit before any signal connections are made. Also, this connection is made to be a loose fit in the cabinet wall to allow any slight misalignment due to tolerance buildup to be compensated for when the individual units are mated.
In view of the foregoing it will be seen that one aspect of the present invention is to provide an I/O module mounting cabinet which allows correct mounting of color coded modules on both sides of the cabinet
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an I/O module mounting cabinet which allows blind mating of a block I/O unit to a cabinet having power and signal connections for the I/O unit.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an I/O module mounting cabinet which allows the block I/O unit to be electrically connected in the cabinet insuring proper sequencing of power and signal connections.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5507650 (1996-04-01), Larabell
patent: 5680295 (1997-10-01), Le et al.
patent: 5682290 (1997-10-01), Markow et al.
patent: 5967633 (1999-10-01), Jung
patent: 6018456 (2000-01-01), Young et al.
Benson, Jr. Richard E.
Burchard Thomas H.
Kim Youngminh
Oros Donald L.
Priscak David S.
Bui Tung Minh
Elsag International N.V.
Matas Vytas R.
Picard Leo P.
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