# US 2014/0156029 A1 · Modular control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156029 A1 - Document ID: US20140156029A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/174,343 - Filed: 2014-02-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-09 - Assignees: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Thorsten GODAU; Markus CECH; Winfried GRUBER; Andreas VEIT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156029A1 ## CPC - G05B 15/02: electric - H01R 9/2458: {Electrical interconnections between terminal blocks} - H05K 7/1468: {Mechanical features of input/output (I/O) modules} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A control apparatus has at least one module including first, second and third module parts. The first and second module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a first combined arrangement. The first and third module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a second combined arrangement. The first module part comprises a securing element with an engagement section moveable between a first position, wherein the first and second module part are secured together, and a second position wherein the first and second module parts can be detached from one another. The securing element includes an actuation section. In the first position, the actuation section is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region. The third module part has a blocking section, which, in the second combined arrangement, occupies at least partially the second spatial region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular control apparatus for controlling a technical installation, comprising: at least one module having a first module part, a second module part and a third module part, wherein the first module part and the second module part are configured in such a manner that they can mechanically and electrically be combined to form a first combined arrangement, and wherein the first module part and the third module part are configured in such a manner that they can mechanically and electrically be combined to form a second combined arrangement, wherein the first module part comprises a securing element with a securing engagement section moveable between a first and a second position, and comprises a securing actuation section by means of which the securing element, in the first combined arrangement, is moveable between the first and second positions when a force is exerted on the securing actuation section, wherein the securing engagement section, in the first position, is in securing engagement with the second module part such that the first module part and the second module part are secured against one another to thereby secure the first combined arrangement, and wherein the securing engagement section, in the second position, is located in the first combined arrangement in such a manner that the first module part and the second module part are detachable from one another, wherein the securing actuation section, in the first position, is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region, and wherein the third module part has a blocking section, which, in the second combined arrangement, is located at least partially in said second spatial region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blocking section comprises a projection configured to make contact with the securing actuation section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third module part has a first pivoting holder element, on which the first module part can be detachably held, wherein the first pivoting holder element defines a first pivot point with a first pivot axis such that the first module part and the third module part can be combined to form the second combined arrangement by a first pivoting movement along a first defined movement path around said first pivot axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the blocking section is a part of the first pivoting holder element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module part has a second pivoting holder element, on which the second module part can be detachably held, wherein the second pivoting holder element defines a second pivot point with a second pivot axis such that the first module part and the second module part can be combined to form the first combined arrangement by a second pivoting movement along a second defined movement path around said second pivot axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing engagement section is a projection or a bar, which, in the first position, is in securing engagement with a cutout in the second module part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securing element is a lever with a defined fixpoint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lever is a two-sided lever with a first lever part and a second lever part with respect to the defined fixpoint, and wherein the securing actuation section is located on the first lever part, and wherein the securing engagement section is located on the second lever part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the lever is a one-sided lever. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the securing actuation section is moveable in a plane which is perpendicular to a fixpoint axis defined by said fixpoint, wherein the securing actuation section, in the first position, is arranged in a first angular position in the plane, and wherein the securing actuation section, in the second position, is arranged in second angular position in the plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the blocking section, in the second combined arrangement, is arranged at least partially in a region between the first angular position and the second angular position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module part comprises a housing, and wherein the securing element is configured to be fastened on said housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module part comprises at least one first electrical contact, and wherein the second module part comprises at least one first electrical mating contact, which, in the first combined arrangement, makes contact with the first electrical contact for electrical connection between the first and second module parts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third module part comprises at least one second electrical contact, and wherein the first module part comprises at least one second electrical mating contact, which, in the second combined arrangement, makes contact with the second electrical contact for electrical connection between the first and third module parts. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first module part comprises a signal processing unit, wherein the second module part comprises at least one bus connection for establishing a communications bus or a supply voltage bus, and wherein the third module part comprises at least one external connector for supplying an external signal or an external supply voltage. ### Claim 16 In a modular control apparatus for controlling a technical installation, said modular control apparatus comprising a plurality of control module arrangements each having a first module part, a second module part and a third module part having a blocking section, a first module part comprising: a securing element with a securing engagement section moveable between a first and a second position, and a securing actuation section by means of which the securing element, in the control module arrangement, is moveable between the first and second positions when a force is exerted on the securing actuation section, wherein the securing engagement section, in the first position, is in securing engagement with the second module part such that the first module part and the second module part are secured against one another, wherein the securing engagement section, in the second position, is arranged in the control module arrangement in such a manner that the first module part and the second module part are detachable from one another, wherein the securing actuation section, in the first position, is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region, and wherein the blocking section is located at least partially in said second spatial region. ### Claim 17 In a modular control apparatus for controlling a technical installation, said modular control apparatus comprising a plurality of control modules each having a first module part, a second module part and a third module part, wherein the first module part and the second module part are mechanically and electrically combined to form a first combined arrangement, and wherein the first module part and the third module part are mechanically and electrically combined to form a second combined arrangement, wherein the first module part comprises a securing element with a securing engagement section moveable between a first and a second position, and comprises a securing actuation section by means of which the securing element, in the first combined arrangement, is moveable between the first and second positions when a force is exerted on the securing actuation section, wherein the securing engagement section, in the first position, is in securing engagement with the second module part such that the first module part and the second module part are secured against one another to thereby secure the first combined arrangement, and wherein the securing engagement section, in the second position, is located in the first combined arrangement in such a manner that the first module part and the second module part are detachable from one another, wherein the securing actuation section, in the first position, is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region, a third module part comprising: a blocking section located at least partially in said second spatial region.