Patent ID: 6961233

Claim:
A field bus module assembly, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular base module ( 100 ) adapted for connection with a fixed horizontal support; (b) an input/output module ( 300 ); and (c) a generally rectangular connecting module ( 200 ) mounting said input/output module on said base module; (d) said base module including: (1) a base body ( 101 ) formed of synthetic plastic electrical insulating material, said base body having a lateral projecting portion ( 114 ) that is adapted to extend within a corresponding lateral recess ( 115 ) contained in an adjacent second base module, said base body having a horizontal lower surface containing an upwardly extending second recess ( 106 ) having a top wall; (2) a plurality of bus bar electrical contacts ( 102 ) mounted in transversely-arranged, laterally-spaced relation within said second recess adjacent said top wall; (3) a horizontal cover member ( 103 ) arranged in said second recess below said bus bar electrical contacts, said cover member being spaced upwardly above the horizontal plane containing said base body lower surface, thereby to define a chamber ( 110 ) in the bottom portion of said second recess; and (4) a first mass of encapsulating material (M) filling said chamber, thereby to hermetically seal said bus bar electrical contacts against moisture.