Modular electrical bus system
AssigneeNumatics, Incorporated
InventorsEnrico De Carolis, John F. Eskew, Adam Gibson, Michael W. Hundt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular electrical bus system for a valve manifold has a main communication module with a plurality of modular I/O units each having a plurality of I/O fittings being both electrically and mechanically connectable together via a bridge member connecting adjacent units and the main communication module. At least one of the modular I/O units is also mechanically separable from and maintains communication connection to the main communication module. One or both of the modular IO units and main communication module may have an alpha-numeric display.
Claims28
A modular electrical bus assembly comprising;
- a first module and a second module juxtaposed against each other;
- said one module having at least one side with interlocking extension;
- and
- said second module having a juxtaposed side with a complementary interlocking cavity.
An electrical bus assembly comprising:
- a main communication module:
- a bank of modular I/O units mounted to the side of the main communication module and adjacent each other;
- each modular I/O unit having an electrical fitting in proximity to each side thereof;
- a bridge member spanning and connecting two adjacent modular I/O units;
- said bridge member having a complementary electrical fittings for engaging the electrical fittings of two adjacent I/O units;
- a fastener for mounting said modular I/O units to a mounting base;
- and
- said bridge member also mechanically connecting said adjacent modular I/O units together such that when said bridge members are disengaged from one modular PO unit, said one modular I/O unit can be removed from said mounting base and said bank of modular I/O units without removing said left and right adjacent modular I/O units;
- and
- each modular I/O unit enclosing electronic boards therein and being distributable to a remote location and electrically connectable to the main bank and main communication module.
An I/O module for an electrical bus system comprising:
- a housing having a main front face and a first electrical connection proximate to one side and a second electrical connection proximate another side;
- a plurality of I/O fittings on the main front face of said housing;
- and
- said one side of said housing shaped to interlock with said other side of an adjacent I/O module and to receive a bridge connector therebetween.
An electrical bus communication system comprising:
- a module having an alpha-numeric display thereon for displaying information relative thereto.
An electrical bus communication assembly comprising:
- a main communication module:
- a bank of modular I/O units mounted to the side of the main communication module and adjacent each other;
- each modular I/O unit having an electrical fitting in proximity to each side thereof and being connected to a respective complementary electrical fitting of an adjacent module;
- said one modular I/O unit being removable from said bank of modular I/O units without removing said left and right modular I/O units;
- each modular I/O unit enclosing electronic boards therein and being distributable to a remote location and electrically connectable to the main bank and main communication module;
- and
- said main communication module constructed to automatically address each modular I/O unit with a sub-network address on either the main bank or on the remote location.
A modular electrical bus assembly comprising:
- a first module and a second module juxtaposed against each other and having opposing sides complementarily shaped to interlock together along a plane;
- and
- a bridge member fastenable to both first and second module to lock said modules together in a direction perpendicular to said plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.