Din rail latching system and method
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorDawn Barile
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A module is adapted to be releasably mounted to a mounting rail such as a DIN rail. The module includes a rail receiving location and first and second latches each movable between a first position where they are retracted from the rail receiving location and a second position where they at least partially obstruct the rail receiving location. The module is selectively attachable to an associated rail located in the rail receiving location by movement of the first and second latches to their respective second positions. One or both of the first and second latches is conformed to capture a projecting portion of an adjacent module when in the second position so as to affix the module and the adjacent module to each other and to the mounting rail.
Claims21
A DIN rail mounting system comprising:
- first and second modules each comprising:
- (i) a DIN rail receiving location;
- (ii) first and second latches each movable between a first position where they are retracted from said DIN rail receiving location and a second position where they at least partially obstruct said DIN rail receiving location, wherein said first and second modules are selectively attachable to an associated DIN rail located in said DIN rail receiving location by movement of said first and second latches to their respective second positions;
- said first module further comprising at least one projecting tab that is slidably matable with said second module, wherein said at least one projecting tab is engaged by at least one of said first and second latches of said second module when said at least one of said latches is located in said second position to thus releasably interconnect said first and second modules.
A module adapted to be releasably mounted to an associated DIN rail, said module comprising:
- a DIN rail receiving location;
- first and second latches each movable between a first position where they are retracted from said DIN rail receiving location and a second position where they at least partially obstruct said DIN rail receiving location, wherein said module is selectively attachable to an associated DIN rail located in said DIN rail receiving location by movement of said first and second latches to their respective second positions, and wherein said first and second latches are conformed to receive respective first and second projecting portions of the associated adjacent module when in their first positions and to capture said respective first and second projecting portions when in their second positions;
- said module defining first and second openings adapted to receive the first and second projection portions of the associated adjacent module, wherein said first and second latches obstruct the first and second openings when located in their respective second positions.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A module adapted to be releasably mounted to an associated DIN rail, said module comprising:
- a DIN rail receiving location;
- first and second latches each movable between a first position where they are retracted from said DIN rail receiving location and a second position where thee at least partially obstruct said DIN rail receiving location, wherein said module is selectively attachable to an associated DIN rail located in said DIN rail receiving location by movement of said first and second latches to their respective second positions;
- and wherein said first and second latches are conformed to receive respective first and second projecting portions of the associated adjacent module when in their first positions and to capture said respective first and second projecting portions when in their second positions,
- wherein said first and second latches of said module each define an L-shaped groove comprising a first groove portion and a transverse second groove portion, wherein said first groove portions of said first and second latches are adapted to receive the associated first and second projecting portions, respectively, when the latches are in their first positions, and wherein the second groove portions of said first and second latches receive and capture the associated first and second projecting portions, respectively, when the latches are moved from their first positions to their second positions.
(canceled)
A method for mounting at least a first module and a second module on a DIN rail, said method comprising:
- placing a first module on a DIN rail;
- closing first and second latches of the first module to capture the DIN rail to the first module;
- placing a second module on a DIN rail;
- moving said second module adjacent said first module on said DIN rail;
- closing first and second latches of the second module to capture the DIN rail to the second module and to capture a portion of the first module to the second module, wherein:
- said portion of said first module captured to the second module comprises first and second tabs;
- said first and second tabs are received into said second module when said second module is moved adjacent said first module;
- and,
- wherein said step of closing first and second latches of the second module to capture the DIN rail to the second module comprises capturing the first tab to the first latch and capturing the second tab to the second latch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.