Patent Publication Number: US-2020305292-A1

Title: Control device installation apparatus and control device unit

Description:
This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-053008, filed. on 20 Mar. 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a control device installation apparatus and a control device unit including the control device installation apparatus. 
     Related Art 
     For installation of a control device on a control panel, it has been common to develop a design based on the size of a selected control device and its interfaces (attachment and wiring). However, when replacement (substitution) of the control device is needed due to addition of a second source or in response to discontinuation of production, it may be required to change the wiring and the attachment parts. Such changes may result in an increase in the workload at a service site and an increase in the number of process steps required for the restoration/replacement. To address this problem involved in the replacement of control devices, it has been known to use an adaptor unit that makes the connection type of an existing control device and the connection type of a new control device conform to each other (see Patent Document 1). 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2011-181530 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The adaptor unit of this type is based on the assumption that the adapter is attached to a new control device in advance in a factory. Therefore, in the case where the adaptor needs to be attached to a new control device at a service site, it is not likely that a reduction is achieved in the workload at the service site and the number of process steps required for the restoration/replacement. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technique facilitating replacement of a control device installed at a control panel with another control device. 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a control device installation apparatus for enabling a first control device or a second control device to be installed at a control panel in a selective manner. The control device installation apparatus includes: a housing configured to house the first control device or the second control device, and configured to be fastened to the control panel; a first control device fastener configured to fasten the first control device to the housing; a second control device fastener configured to fasten the second control device to the housing; a cable configured to electrically connect the first control device or the second control device to an outside of the housing; and a terminal block connectable to a terminal of the first control device or a terminal of the second control device, and connectable to a terminal of the cable. 
     A second aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a control device unit including: the control device installation apparatus of the first aspect; and the first control device or the second control device. 
     The present disclosure provides a control device installation apparatus that can facilitate replacement of a control device installed at a control panel. The present disclosure also provides a control device unit including the control device installation apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a state in which a control device unit having a first control device incorporated therein is provided. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the control device installation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a state in which the control device unit having a second control device incorporated therein is provided. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of each of second and subsequent embodiments, the same reference characters denote components and elements in common with the first embodiment or other embodiments, and the description of the components and elements in common will be omitted. Further, in the description of each of the second and subsequent embodiments, description of the same or similar effects to those achieved in the first embodiment or other embodiments will be omitted. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a state in which a control device unit having a first control device incorporated therein is provided.  FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the control device installation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a state in which the control device unit having a second control device incorporated therein is provided. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the control device installation apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment enables the first control device A or the second control device B to be installed at a control panel P in a selective manner. The control device unit  10  includes the control device installation apparatus  1  and the first control device A (see  FIG. 1A ) or a second control device B (see  FIG. 1B ), and is configured to be fastened to the control panel P. The control device unit  10  is provided with a housing  11 , unit fasteners  12 , first control device fasteners  13 , second control device fasteners  14 , cables  15 , and terminal blocks  16 , and has a selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B incorporated therein. 
     The housing  11  houses, for example, the first control device fasteners  13 , the second control device fasteners  14 , the cables  15 , the terminal blocks  16 , the selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B. The housing  11  is fastened to the control panel P via the unit fasteners  12 . The unit fasteners  12  fasten the housing  11  to the control panel P. The unit fastener  12  includes, for example, a screw hole formed in the housing  11 , and a screw, and functions in conjunction with a screw hole formed in the control panel P. The unit fasteners  12  fasten the housing  11  to the control panel P. 
     The first control device fasteners  13  fasten the first control device A to the housing  11 . The first control device fastener  13  is composed of, for example, screw holes formed in the first control device A and the housing  11 , and a screw. The second control device fasteners  14  fasten the second control device B to the housing  11 . The second control device fastener  14  is composed of, for example, screw holes formed in the second control device B and the housing  11 , and a screw. Selective use of the first control device fasteners  13  or the second control device fasteners  14  makes it possible to easily replace one control device with another in the housing  11 . 
     The cables  15  electrically connect a selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B to the outside of the housing  11 . Each cable  15  has a terminal  15   a  at one end, and a terminal  15   b  at the other end. The terminal  15   a  at the one end is connected to the terminal block  16 . The other terminal  15   b , which is provided at the end opposite to the terminal  15   a  connected to the terminal block  16 , is fixed to the housing  11  such that the terminal  15   b  is exposed from the housing  11 . 
     The terminal blocks  16  are disposed in the housing  11 , and each relay between a selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B and the cable  15 . Each terminal block  16  is connected to a terminal T of a selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B, and the terminal  15   a  provided at the one end of the cable  15 . The control device unit  10  includes the plurality of cables  15  (e.g., two cables  15 ) and the plurality of terminal blocks  16  (e.g., two terminal blocks  16 ). The terminal block  16  is connectable to different numbers of terminals T of different types. Therefore, for example, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the terminal block  16  can absorb a difference in number and in type of the terminals T between the first control device A (having one terminal T disposed on an upper portion in  FIG. 1A ) and the second control device B (having four terminals T disposed in an upper portion in  FIG. 1B ). 
     According to the control device installation apparatus  1  of the present embodiment, the housing  11  absorbs a difference between the control devices. Therefore, when the first control device A or the second control device B needs to be replaced at a service site, due to addition of a second source or in response to discontinuation of production, the control device installation apparatus  1  can reduce the workload at the service site and the number of process steps required for the restoration/replacement. Thus, replacement of the control device installed at the control panel P can be facilitated. Further, since the relevant apparatus, devices and components are formed (unitized) into the control device unit  10 , it is only necessary to replace the whole control device unit  10  incorporating the first control device A or the second control device B with another unit. As a result, an operator is less likely to contact with the first control device A or the second control device B, and protection against water and dust is enhanced, thereby making it easy to secure an IP protection class. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device installation apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment differs from the control device installation apparatus of the first embodiment in that for example, the housing  11  of the second embodiment houses, in addition to the first control device A or the second control device B, another device  17  that is different from the first control device A and the second control device B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the control device installation apparatus  2  according to the present embodiment, the control device unit  10  includes the device  17 . For example, the device  17  is electrically connected to the second control device B, and functions in conjunction with the second control device B. Examples of the device  17  include a lamp, a relay, a fuse and a switch. 
     According to the control device installation apparatus  2  of the present embodiment, even if the first control device A alone is not functionally compatible with the second control device B alone, incorporating the device  17  that completes the function or adds a function in the control device unit  10  makes it possible to maintain the functional compatibility on the basis of each control device unit  10 . 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the control device installation apparatus  5  according to the present embodiment includes one terminal  15   b  at the other end of the cable  15  as a single integrated terminal. Therefore, the control device unit  10  includes one cable  15  and one terminal block  16 . 
     Since the terminal  15   b  at the other end of the cable  15  is embodied as a single integrated terminal, the control device installation apparatus  3  according to the present embodiment can reduce the number of process steps required for the replacement and can reduce the amount of wiring in the control panel P. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device installation apparatus  4  of the present embodiment differs from the control device installation apparatus of the first embodiment in that, for example, the control device installation apparatus  4  includes a vibration suppressor  18  for suppressing vibration of the first control device A or the second control device B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the control device installation apparatus  4  according to the present embodiment, the control device unit  10  includes the vibration suppressor  18 . For example, the vibration suppressor  18  is constituted by an elastic member. The vibration suppressor  18  is disposed between the housing  11  and the first and second control device fasteners  13  and  14  as well as the first control device A or the second control device B. For example, the vibration suppressor  18  is fastened to the housing  11 , together with the first control device A or the second control device B, by means of screws that are included in the first control device fasteners  13  or the second control device fasteners  14 . 
     The control device installation apparatus  4  of the present embodiment, which includes the vibration suppressor  18 , makes it possible to reduce vibration. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device installation apparatus  5  of the present embodiment differs from the control device installation apparatus of the first embodiment in that, for example, the control device installation apparatus  5  includes a heat dissipator  19  for discharging heat in the housing  11  to the outside. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the control device installation apparatus  5  according to the present embodiment, the control device unit  10  includes the heat dissipator  19 . For example, the heat dissipator  19  is disposed on the housing  11  so as to face both the inside and the outside of the housing  11 , and is embodied as a fan that is driven by a motor. 
     The control device installation apparatus  5  according to the present embodiment, which includes the heat dissipator  19 , can reduce heat generation. 
     Sixth Embodiment 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a control device installation apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device installation apparatus  6  of the present embodiment differs from the control device installation apparatus of the first embodiment in that, for example, the housing  11  of the control device installation apparatus  6  is made of metal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , according to the control device installation apparatus  6  of the present embodiment, the housing  11  is made of metal. In the control device installation apparatus  6 , a selected one of the first control device A or the second control device B is electrically connected to the housing  11 . The control device installation apparatus  6  is grounded via the housing  11  and the control panel P that are electrically connected to the ground. 
     The control device installation apparatus  6  according to the present embodiment, of which the housing  11  is made of metal, can be grounded at a low impedance. As a result, improvement of noise resistance (electrical protection of the first control device A or the second control device B) can be achieved. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the feature of each embodiment may be appropriately applied to a different embodiment. Further, in the embodiments, the most preferred effects resulting from the present disclosure are merely listed, and the effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those described in the embodiments. 
     Each of the above embodiments is configured such that one of two types of control devices (the first control device A or the second control device B) can be installed selectively. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Each embodiment may be configured such that one of three or more types of control devices can be installed selectively. In that case, if focus is given to two types among the three types of control devices, each embodiment can be regarded to be configured such that one of the two types of control devices can be installed in a selective manner. 
     The control device according to the present disclosure is not limited to a device that controls the entire or part of a system, but generally refers to an electronic or electric device having an input portion or an output portion. Examples of the control device include signal input and output devices such as a computer and a programmable logic controller (PLC), displays such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), power supply devices such as a stabilized power supply and a transformer, protective devices such as an electromagnetic contactor and a fuse, electronic devices such as a relay and a switch, and measurement devices such as a sensor and a gauge. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 : Control Device Installation Apparatus 
           10 : Control Device Unit 
           11 : Housing 
           12 : Unit Fastener 
           13 : First Control Device Fastener 
           14 : Second Control Device Fastener 
           15 : Cable 
           15   a ,  15   b : Terminal 
           16 : Terminal Block 
           17 : Device 
           18 : Vibration Suppressor 
           19 : Heat Dissipator 
         A: First Control Device 
         B: Second Control Device 
         P: Control Panel 
         T: Terminal