DRIVE SYSTEM HAVING A CENTRAL MODULE, DISTRIBUTORS AND DRIVES

A drive system includes a central module, distributors, and drives. Each drive is assigned a respective distributor. A first hybrid cable is led from the respective drive through a respective first cable gland of the respective distributor into the respective distributor, a second hybrid cable is led from the central module through a second cable gland into a first distributor, and a further second hybrid cable is led from a respective distributor through a further second cable gland into a respective distributor arranged downstream. A respective first data cable is led from the respective drive through a respective third cable gland into the respective distributor, and a respective second data cable is led from the respective drive through a respective third cable gland into the respective distributor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drive system having a central module, distributors, and drives.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In certain conventional systems, a drive has an electric motor.

A rail distribution system is described in German Patent Document No. 103 51 532.

A distribution box is described in German Patent Document No. 199 05 952.

A distributor is described in German Patent Document No. 199 64 437.

A device for controlling multiple drive units is described in German Patent Document No. 10 2011 118 361.

A wall mounting for an electronic display is described in German Patent Document No. 10 2018 101 210.

A brake for a motor is described in German Patent Document No. 36 13 294.

SUMMARY

Example embodiments of the present invention provided a drive system, in which cost-effective production and/or start-up of the drive system is possible.

According to example embodiments of the present invention, a drive system includes a central module, distributors, and drives. Each drive is assigned a respective distributor. A first hybrid cable is led from the respective drive through a respective first cable gland of the respective distributor into the respective distributor, and a second hybrid cable is led from the central module through a second cable gland into a first distributor. A further second hybrid cable is led from a respective distributor through a further second cable gland into a respective distributor arranged, e.g., in a line, e.g., in a series, downstream. A respective first data cable is led from the respective drive through a respective third cable gland into the respective distributor, and a respective second data cable is led from the respective drive through a respective third cable gland into the respective distributor.

Thus, the data line can be arranged as an Ethernet line, since it is not arranged as a stub line, but rather a first data line is led from the distributor to the drive and a second data line from the drive to the distributor. Thus, only the low-voltage cables and extra-low voltage cables are led as a stub line from the distributor to the drive. Thus, separate cable glands for the two data cables must be provided on the distributor. The drive has an electric motor fed by an inverter. The inverter includes signal electronics to which the two data cables, e.g., the data lines of the two data cables, are electrically connected. This provides for fast data exchange. This is because the data intended for the inverter arranged as a bus subscriber can be fed directly to the inverter, while the data intended for other bus subscribers can be forwarded via the respective data cable.

According to example embodiments, the central module is arranged in a switch cabinet. Thus, the central module can be arranged protected, i.e., outside the field of the system.

According to example embodiments, the central module includes: a low-voltage connection, e.g., one that is connected to a three-phase voltage network; an extra-low voltage connection, e.g., one that provides a 24-volt power supply; and a controller connected to drives of the drive system for data exchange.

Thus, power and data signals as well as an extra-low voltage supply of 24 volts can be provided by the central module. The second hybrid cable is connected to the central module and transmits low voltage, extra-low voltage, and data signals.

According to example embodiments, the first hybrid cable includes: low-voltage lines, e.g., low-voltage lines with neutral conductors; and extra-low voltage lines.

Thus, the first hybrid cable has a smaller diameter than the second hybrid cable, since the second hybrid cable, unlike the first hybrid cable, also includes a shielded data line.

According to example embodiments, the second hybrid cable includes: low-voltage lines, e.g., low-voltage lines with neutral conductors; extra-low voltage lines; and a data line.

Thus, the first hybrid cable has a smaller diameter than the second hybrid cable, since the second hybrid cable, unlike the first hybrid cable, also includes a shielded data line.

According to example embodiments, the distributor has a lower part and an upper part placed thereon, and all cable glands are arranged in the lower part. Thus, the wiring can be carried out in the lower part, and the upper part has a labeling surface for identifying the cable glands.

According to example embodiments, a switch is arranged in the lower part, which can be actuated coming from the outside, e.g., from the outer environment of the lower part, and the low-voltage lines of the first hybrid cable can be disconnected, e.g., electrically disconnected, via the switch. Thus, the power supply to the drive can be switched off. Nevertheless, data can still be exchanged and the signal electronics thus remain programmable or controllable. The signal electronics can be supplied from the extra-low voltage.

According to example embodiments, the lower part is shaped like a box. Thus, cost-effective production is possible. The lower part is, for example, cuboid and has four sides.

According to example embodiments, the lower part has a bottom wall, e.g., a bottom side, which is adjacent to at least one front wall, e.g., a front side, of the lower part. A first side wall, e.g., a first side, of the lower part is adjacent to the bottom wall and to the front wall, and a second side wall, e.g., a second side, of the lower part is adjacent to the bottom wall and to the front wall and is at a distance from the first side wall. For example, the second side wall is aligned parallel to the first side wall, and/or the second side wall is arranged opposite the first side wall on the lower part. Thus, ready production is possible.

According to example embodiments, the first cable gland is arranged in the front wall. Thus, the front wall can be aligned downwards in the direction of gravity, and, thus, the weight of the first hybrid cable pulls the distributor downwards so that the fastening of the distributor is further secured. This is because the U-shaped foot parts formed on the lower part are pressed more firmly onto bolts or screws fastened in a wall of the system.

According to example embodiments, the third cable gland is arranged in the front wall. Thus, data cables can be led into the interior in a sealed manner.

According to example embodiments, the second cable gland is arranged in the second side wall. Thus, a simple loop-through can be achieved via the second hybrid cables on the second side wall.

According to example embodiments, the switch for disconnecting the low-voltage lines of the first hybrid cable is arranged in the first side wall. Thus, the actuation of the switch is as far away as possible from the second side wall with its second looped-through hybrid cables.

According to example embodiments, an eyelet is formed on the lower part. For example, the clear inside diameter of the eyelet decreases, e.g., monotonously, with increasing distance from the first cable gland. The clear inside diameter is measured perpendicular to a straight line connecting the eyelet and the first cable gland. Thus, a bayonet catch can be achieved. Since the eyelet is arranged above the foot parts in the direction of gravity, the weight of the distributor and the tensile force of the first hybrid cable presses the distributor onto the bolts, while the eyelet with its narrowed region is clamped on the bolt protruding through the eyelet.

According to example embodiments, the upper part has a flat surface section arranged as a labeling surface, and the surface section has a smaller distance to the first, second, and/or third cable gland than to the eyelet. Thus, cabling errors can be reduced.

According to example embodiments, further cable glands, e.g., unused cable glands, are arranged on the lower part, e.g., on the front wall and on the second side wall. Thus, separate low-voltage cables, extra-low voltage cables, and data cables can be used instead of hybrid cables, and, however, the same distributor can be used.

According to example embodiments, the data line of the second hybrid cable is led through the first data cable or electrically connected to a data line of the first data cable, and the data line of the further second hybrid cable is led through the second data cable or is electrically connected to a data line of the second data cable. Thus, the data line is not routed as a stub line. This means that an Ethernet data bus can be used, and the data lines can be used as Ethernet data lines.

Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the appended schematic Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As schematically illustrated in the Figures, the drive system has a central module, e.g., arranged in a switch cabinet21.

The central module includes a low-voltage connection22, e.g., connected to a three-phase voltage network, an extra-low voltage connection23, which provides, for example, a 24-volt voltage supply, and a controller24connected to drives of the drive system for data exchange.

Each drive has a respective electric motor26fed by a respective inverter25.

Each drive is assigned a respective distributor4, which supplies the drive with electrical power via a first hybrid cable1. In addition, a data cable3from the distributor4to the drive and a similar data cable3from the drive to the distributor4are routed in the system in which the drive system is arranged.

For example, the data cable3carries an Ethernet cable. This means that there is no stub line for the data cable3, but rather a feed line to and a return line from the drive.

From the switch cabinet21, e.g., from the controller24, the distributors4are arranged in series, e.g., electrically in series, one behind the other.

A second hybrid cable2is routed from the switch cabinet21to the first of the distributors4, which second hybrid cable2has a low-voltage line5, e.g., a phase line of the three-phase voltage network, a neutral conductor6, an extra-low voltage line7, and, for example, a shielded data line8.

A second hybrid cable2of the same type is routed from the respective distributor4to the distributor4respectively downstream in the series, and the cable lengths of the hybrid cables2are suitably selected in each case.

The two second hybrid cables2routed to a respective distributor4are led through cable glands30of the distributor into the interior of the distributor4, and the low-voltage lines5, e.g., the phase lines of the three-phase voltage supply network and the neutral conductor6are looped through.

The first hybrid cable1is also led through a cable gland32of the distributor4into its interior.

For each mains phase, a stub line with the corresponding phase of the low-voltage line of the first hybrid cable1is led from the respective low-voltage line5of the second hybrid cable2.

Similarly, from the neutral conductor6looped through between the two second hybrid cables2, a stub line branches off to the neutral conductor6of the first hybrid cable1.

However, the data line8of the first of the two second hybrid cables2is led to the drive in the data cable3, which is arranged as a feed line, so that data can be fed to the inverter located there, which is arranged as a bus subscriber.

From this inverter, however, the data cable3, which is arranged as a return line, is connected in the distributor to the data line of the second of the two second hybrid cables2.

The stub lines leading to the low-voltage line of the first hybrid cable1can be disconnected via a switch9.

As illustrated inFIG.3andFIG.4, the distributor4has a lower part35and an upper part36placed on the lower part35. The lower part35and the upper part36thus form a substantially cuboid box.

On the bottom side of the distributor4, respectively U-shaped foot parts34are arranged, and an eyelet41, the clear inside diameter of which decreases with increasing distance at least in a partial region of the eyelet41.

In this manner, wall fastening is possible on three bolts or screws protruding from the wall, and the U-shaped foot parts34are, for example, aligned downwards, e.g., against the vertical direction.

One of the bolts or one of the screws protrudes through the eyelet41, so that by moving the distributor4in the vertical direction, the distributor4rests on two of the bolts or screws and at the same time the third bolt or the third screw rests against a narrowed point of the eyelet41.

The upper part36has a flat surface area that is used for labeling.

On one front side, the lower part35has a cable gland32, through which the first hybrid cable1is led into the interior of the distributor4, e.g., with a high degree of protection.

In addition, the two data cables3are led into the interior of the distributor4through corresponding cable glands33.

In addition, further cable glands33,32are arranged at the front side, but these are unused.

The switch9is arranged on a first side adjacent to the front side so that the drive can be switched off.

Cable glands30are arranged on a second side of the lower part35opposite the first side, through each of which a second hybrid cable2is led into the interior of the distributor4, e.g., with a high degree of protection.

In addition, cable glands31are also arranged on the second side of the lower part35, which are unused. However, these further cable glands31are suitably arranged so that a data cable, e.g., with a high degree of protection, can be led through each of these further cable glands31into the interior of the distributor4.

Thus, the lower part35can also be used if cables are used instead of the hybrid cables1,2, and low-voltage lines are arranged separately in a low-voltage cable and extra-low voltage lines separately in an extra-low voltage cable and data lines separately in a data cable.

The lower part35can thus be used with either hybrid cables1,2or other cables.

An advantage of using hybrid cables1,2is that the wiring can be carried out quickly and readily during production with installation of the drive system. Inexpensive standard cables can be used without using the hybrid cables1,2. The use is thus selected or not selected, depending on requirements.

In any case, the flat surface section of the upper part36serves as a labeling surface42, so that the assignment of the cable glands is indicated.

The switch9can be actuated from the outside.

According to example embodiments, the distributor4is fastened to the wall of the system such that the front side is aligned downwards in the direction of gravity, e.g., so that the normal vector of the straight front side is aligned parallel to the vertical direction. This means that the weight of the first hybrid cable1, in addition to the weight of the distributor4, is transferred via the foot parts34and the bolts or screws fastened in the wall. This means that the fastening of distributor4to the wall is implemented with increased safety.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1First hybrid cable2Second hybrid cable3Data cable, e.g., shielded cable4Distributor5Low-voltage line, e.g., phase line of the three-phase network6Neutral conductor7Extra-low voltage line8Data line9Switch20IO module, e.g., module with inputs and outputs21Switch cabinet22Low-voltage connection23Extra-low voltage connection24Controller30Cable gland for second hybrid cable31Cable gland for data cable or extra-low voltage cable32First cable gland for first hybrid cable33Cable gland for data cable or extra-low voltage cable34Foot part with groove or recess35Lower part36Upper part41Eyelet region of the lower part3542Labeling surface