Patent Application
20220196020
The present invention relates to an electric pump. More particularly this invention concerns a function module for an electric pump.
Function modules for expanding the functional scope of a centrifugal pump unit are known. For example, WILO SE part item number 2097810 function module, also called IF module (IF=Interface), for their centrifugal pump units “Stratos” series and of the dry-run type that turn the control electronics of the pump with a serial communication interface for BACnet to connect the centrifugal pump to be able to connect to building automation. The IF module provides both the electrical connection (RS485) for the connection of the pump to a BACnet as well as the necessary Communication protocol. WILO SE offers a functional module of this kind under the part number 2097808 that is a corresponding extension of the pump using the industry standard MODBUS. Thus, a user can use the centrifugal pump unit optionally supplemented and tailored to his needs and the daily needs of the communication infrastructure. The two functional modules are connected to the same electrical interface of the centrifugal pump unit.
Meeting current and future customer needs requires steady growth of the functional scope of centrifugal pump units and their pump electronics especially with regard to wired or wireless communication interfaces. Due to continuous development of existing communication technologies (example mobile communications: 2G (GSM)→3G (UMTS)→4G (LTE Advanced)→5G; Bluetooth-Bluetooth Low Energy) new technologies (ZigBee, enOcean, RFID), there is also a need in the market for rapid availability of function-expanded centrifugal pump units on the market, and due to the necessary product development time and in particular the required product certification, especially for radio-based communication technologies, this need is difficult to meet. In addition, there is the desire to be inexpensive despite the increased functionality.
A solution that meets all of these requirements consists in defining functions or functional groups modularly or in the form of electronic expansion modules that augment the main product or the centrifugal pump unit or its added pump electronics. This reduces the development time and the duration to availability in the market because the development is mainly based on the electronic expansion modules. Furthermore, no recertification of the main product is required, as the certification is limited to the electronic expansion modules. This means that new technologies can be combined or integrated with the main product in a timely manner. Since with extension modules a needs-based, targeted supplying of the main product with certain functions or functional groups can not be implemented, the required functionalities are omitted, so that there is an overall cost advantage.
The externalization of functions or functional groups in electronic expansion modules make certain demands on the electrical interface between the electronic extension module and the pump electronics as well as the assembly or upgrading of the expansion module. Among other things, the aspects of operational safety, robustness, susceptibility to errors, protection against accidental contact, insulation, tightness, handling and attachment have to be considered. Furthermore, a uniform interface for different expansion modules is desirable, so that depending on needs different extension modules have to be able to be connected to the same electrical interface of the pump electronics.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved electronic expansion module for pump electronics.
Another object is the provision of such an improved electronic expansion module for pump electronics that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that expands the pump electronics with to provide at least one additional function that meets the above-described requirements and washing takes into account.
A plug-in electronic expansion module for pump electronics of a centrifugal pump for expanding the pump electronics with at least one additional function. The module has according to the invention a module housing having a lower face and connecting formations thereon for attachment to a pump housing of the pump electronics, electronics in the module housing providing the additional function. A base is provided on the lower face, and an electrical interface connected to the pump electronics includes a flat support projecting tongue-like from the base on the lower face of the module housing through an opening in the pump housing and carrying contact-forming electrical traces.
The above-described expansion module is particularly easy to install because it can be plugged and also meet the requirements for operational safety, robustness, susceptibility to faults, protection against contact, insulation and tightness. The additional function can include for example radio-based communication technology. This communication technology can be, for example, Bluetooth, in particular Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network according to IEEE 802.11 standard) or cellular network (according to a cellular standard for 3G, 4G, 5G cellular networks of 3GPP, especially NB-IoT|over LTE and/or 5G networks). This has the advantage that the centrifugal pump with a radio-based communication interface and can be used without the need to carry out appropriate certification of the pump electronics. Since only the expansion module with the radio-based communication technology must be certified, the overall time until new pump models are available on the market is reduced. It should also be borne in mind that an expansion module can be used for different pump models or variants and only needs to be certified once for centrifugal pumps with integrated radio interface, one for each model variant.
The additional function can alternatively be a wired communication technology, in particular Modbus, BACnet, LIN bus or Ethernet. According to another alternative, the additional function can be a sensor system, an actuator system or an electronic memory module. The sensor technology can be formed by one or more sensors, for example for detecting a temperature outside the centrifugal pump, the humidity, vibrations (acceleration sensor) of the centrifugal pump or a noise-detecting microphone). As actuator it can be, for example, a relay that has a potential-free contact so the pump electronics can control an external device. The memory module can, for example, serve as a data logger. In this way, the pump electronics can transfer data from the centrifugal pump in the expansion module, for example operating data such as flow rate, power consumption etc., or information about the occurrence of errors. As an alternative or in addition, the memory module can support an operating configuration or a software update for the centrifugal pump that the expansion module in the pump electronics. According to the invention, the electrical interface serves for pluggable electrical connection of the expansion module with the pump electronics. Although this already implies a certain mechanical stability between expansion module and pump electronics, it is beneficial to withstand any stress by mechanical forces that may affect the housing of the expansion module to protect the electrical contacts and avoid impairment of the contacting or even damage to the electrical interface or the to avoid corresponding interface problems on the part of the pump electronics. This is reached by the connection formations in that a fixed fixation of the expansion module on pump electronics housing is guaranteed. This is done as intended on its outside, so that no space has to be provided for the expansion module inside the housing and the dimensions of the housing can therefore be small.
The connection formations can preferably be configured such that the extension module can be attached to the housing of the pump electronics so that it can also be removed again if necessary. It may possibly be replaced by another expansion module, be it due to a repair-related replacement of the expansion module, a function change or a function upgrade. The replacement expansion module can have a different function from that of the previous extension module, an additional function, or the same function in a more modern version (Upgrade). The connection formations can, for example, be screw fasteners including at least one screw. To protect the electrical interface from torque, preferably at least two screws serve to secure it in place. Thus, the expansion module is supported by the fasteners and also protected against twisting. Suitably these are two screws right next to it, especially in alignment with the electrical interface. This has the advantage that the housing of the expansion module in one design variant has minimal lateral dimensions. Preferably the screw or screws are captive screw so that they cannot be removed from the housing of the expansion module even when separated. As already stated, a core aspect of the invention is a uniform electrical interface for different extension modules, i.e. extension modules with different additional functions. Depending on the additional function or functions, the extension modules differ not only functionally, but also structurally in terms of their shape and/or Dimensions. So there can be at least one expansion module with a first enclosure size and another expansion module with a second enclosure size that is greater than the first walking size. The assembly or the spacing of the two screws relative to the electrical interface determines the lower limit of the lateral housing dimensions, which in the case of an assembly of the two screws in an electrical interface of minimal size.
In the case of a structurally small extension module, screws are used as the connecting formations for sufficient stability, whereas for larger expansion modules in addition, or at least as an alternative to the screw connection, further connection formations are provided between the expansion module and the housing of the pump electronics that are at a greater spacing from the electrical interface than the screws.
Preferably the connection formations are snugly fitting locking elements that are on the lower face of the housing and project through respective openings into the pump electronics housing.
The locking elements can be blocks or pins projecting from the lower face of the housing. In principle, their cross-section can be round, oval, rectangular or square.
The locking elements can have latching elements and extend behind openings in the pump electronics housing. This creates a self-locking mechanism so that just plugging the expansion module into the pump electronics housing creates a fixed, stable assembly. Further steps for securing the expansion module is therefore not required, which makes handling especially simple.
To easily connect the locking elements to the pump electronics housing and to be able to separate them again, it is advantageous if the locking elements are held in position by a blocking member on the pump electronics housing so that they are no longer displaceable against the direction of attachment of the expansion module and can be removed from the locking position. For this purpose, the locking elements each have a recess for positively receiving this Have blocking member. After plugging the expansion module onto the Pump electronics housing can move the blocking member from a release position into a Positive locking with the locking elements causing blocking position are brought, for example by moving or pivoting the blocking member. That The blocking member is thus displaceable or on the part of the pump electronics housing arranged pivotably.
The number of locking elements can be at least two, preferably four. Ideally, the locking elements are arranged in a rectangle, so that a symmetrical mounting of the expansion module on the pump electronics housing is achieved.
At least one locking element preferably extends farther from the lower face of the housing than the other locking elements. Thus, this element that projects farther from the lower side is first to engage when the expansion module is plugged in and acts as a guide that prevents the extension module from tilting or misaligning and would therefore ensure an aligned and damage-free insertion of the electrical interface into the respective electrical counter interface of the pump electronics. The holes in the pump electronics housing through which the locking elements are guided correspond in size and shape to the outer surfaces of the locking elements, so that there is a form fit. Ideally, at least the element that projects farther from the lower face of the housing has a non-round cross-section, so that the corresponding form fit prevents twisting. To enable the locking elements to be inserted into the holes and in order to further simplify the plugging in of the expansion module, the remote free ends of the locking elements are beveled or conical. This ensures correct alignment of the expansion module relative to the housing of the pump electronics. Lateral offset is prevented and the expansion module is centered.
According to the invention, the electrical interface forms a plug. By projecting significantly from the lower face of the housing, the support element can engage contacts deep inside the housing of the pump electronics. Preferably the spacing between the free end of the support element remote from the lower face of the housing is at least 20 mm. This means that the internal contacts when the expansion module is not attached are protected against contact. Further protection can be provided by a blind plug that is used to close the hole in the pump electronics housing when the attached expansion module which the electrical interface is not plugged in.
It makes sense to have the opening in the pump electronics housing through which the electrical interface is inserted, only slightly larger than the base from which the support element projects. In order to achieve a high level of protection against contact with the mating contacts, a width of the base is less than 14 mm, in particular less than 12 mm, and/or the thickness of the base smaller than 6 mm, in particular smaller than 4.5 mm.
The fact that the contacts of the electrical interface are conductor traces on the flat support element, so the contacts take up little space. The support element can be made comparatively narrow overall. The support element projects from the base with a length that is greater than its width, so that the support element is tongue-shaped. The contacts on the support element are conductor traces in addition, so it is positionally secure, so that, in comparison to the above contact pins, it moves when it is inserted and the expansion module cannot be bent. The conductor traces can only be on one flat face or on both flat faces of the support element. Thus, the electrical interface, if necessary, can have more or fewer contacts without their shape and dimensions being changed.
The contacts advantageously include first electrical contacts for supplying power to the electronics inside the expansion module and second electrical contacts for data transfer. The extension module is thus supplied with current by the pump electronics, so that the expansion module basically does not need an additional power supply connection or a battery. However, in one design variant for safety reasons a battery and/or a power supply connection can be provided on the expansion module. The data transmission contacts are used to transmit data in the form of electrical signals between the expansion module and the pump electronics. Depending on the additional function, this data transmission can be unidirectional or bidirectional, from the expansion module to the pump electronics. It is an advantage if at least one of the electrical contacts is closer to an edge of the free end of the support element, than the other contacts, and this at least one electrical contact is a ground contact. This causes this one grounded contact close to the edge to make first contact when the extension module is plugged. This ensures that electrostatic potentials are dissipated before contacting the data transmission contacts. The risk of damage to an electronic component of the expansion module is thereby minimized. Furthermore, the ground potential is established in the electronics before data transmission contacts are contacted.
Preferably two of the electrical contacts are closer to the edge of the free end of the flat support element than the other contacts, so that one of these two contacts is the ground contact and the other is a power-supply contact. Between these two contacts there is then a supply voltage (SELV) during normal operation and the electronics of the expansion module are supplied. This ensures that when the expansion module is plugged in a defined voltage exists in the electronics before data transmission contacts are contacted.
In one embodiment, the support element can be a printed-circuit board. This is easy and inexpensive to manufacture with the technology known for printed-circuit boards and has only a small thickness. The contacts to be contacted by the pump electronics fit with mating contacts of a board-edge connector that fits the free end of the support element in the manner of a mouth to grip positively and non-positively and at the same time engage the contacts of the electrical interface by resilient counter-contacts. This creates an operationally reliable electrical connection.
In one variant, the housing of the expansion module can include a body of potting material in which the electronics are encapsulated. This means that the electronics are protected from dust and water protected, whereby at least the degree of IP65 protection is attained. In addition, this potting serves for cooling the electronics, since the electronics encased in the potting compound and passes its heat directly to the potting compound. Also such construction transmits vibration directly to the electronics, so that no resonance with a natural frequency different from the vibrations can arise in electrical contact point and/or electronic components of the electronics of the expansion module.
In another embodiment variant, the housing of the expansion module can have two or three sides that delimit a hollow interior in which the electronics are inserted. For example, the housing consists of two housing shells placed one on top of the other, or a trough-like base part and a cover that closes it, or from a base and a hood-like cover element covering it.
The base from which the support element projects extends between the electrical interface, to be more precise, between the freely accessible section of the door element and the housing. Viewed differently, the support element extends through the base into the interior of the housing of the expansion module where the electronics are electrical contacted. The base thus serves to mechanically stabilize the support element.
In a preferred embodiment, the base is unitary or integral with the lower face of the housing. In other words, the base is part of the housing. Thus, there is no need to seal a gap between the base and housing in a design variant in which the lower face of the housing has an opening through which the electrical interface including the base extends. The unitary construction of the base and housing also gives the electrical interface more stability.
According to one design variant, the base is hollow or tubular and the support element extends through the base. The assembly of the electronics and the support element within the housing of the expansion module is therefore particularly simple. In this case, the base serves as a guide and ensures correct parallel alignment.
It is advantageous if the support element is cast or potted in the base, i.e. is part of the plastic material forming the base. Thus no moisture and no dust can move along the support element into the interior of the housing of the expansion module or vice versa from the housing of the pump electronics. There is a synergy of this embodiment variant in connection with the overmolding of the electronics of the expansion module, as in this case the support element and the electronics can be potted at the same time, i.e. in a common process step.
The base preferably has at least on its the upper end remote opposite from its lower free end, a simply symmetrical, preferably a trapezoidal cross-section. This in technical jargon a poka-yoke design that ensures that the expansion module is plugged in with the correctly orientation and thus prevents incorrect assembly, at least if this has not already been achieved by the connecting formations.
In order to seal the opening in the housing of the pump electronics, the base of the housing carries a sealing ring near its upper end close to the housing. In the assembled state of the expansion module this sealing ring fits inside the opening in the pump electronics housing. The sealing ring can for example be molded onto the base so that it is fixed in place and can neither slip nor get lost. An elastomer can be used for this purpose. In one embodiment, this plastic can also be used to fill the cavity in the base and thus the gap or gaps between the base element and the inside of the base are to be sealed tightly. To improve the sealing, this ring can have two parallel sealing lips.
The invention also relates to a centrifugal pump with pump electronics and an expansion module according to the invention, which is attached to the pump electronics. As already mentioned, there can be at least a first expansion module according to the invention with a first housing size and a second expansion module according to the invention with a second different size, whereby the second walking size is larger than the first walking size. More precisely, the base area is the lower face of the case of the first Expansion module larger than the base area of ??the lower face of the housing of the second Expansion module. Nevertheless, according to the invention, the electrical interfaces are this first and second expansion module identical in such a way that either the first or the second expansion module can be plugged into the pump electronics.
This also makes sense for the connection formations, especially the assembly of the locking elements in relation to the electrical interface. The connection formations are formed, for example, by four locking elements in or near the corners of the lower side of the housing of the smaller first expansion module, whereas in the second expansion module due to its structurally larger housing at least two of the locking elements are offset back from the corners of the Lower face of this housing.
Thus, the subject matter of the invention is also a set consisting of at least a first and a second expansion module of the above-described type, in which the base surface of the lower face of the first expansion module is larger than the base of the lower face of the second expansion module, but the electrical interface and the spatial arrangement of the locking elements related to the electrical interface in the two Expansion modules is identical.
Other features, advantages, properties and effects of the invention are given below Described on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the enclosed figures.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
The extension module 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 2 externally connected to an outside face of a housing P of the pump electronics (FIG. E) by connecting formations 3 shown here consisting of two captive screws 3 in respective passages or bores 13 that each extend through a respective side wing 19 of the housing 2. In
The expansion module 1 has electronics 12 that are accommodated in the housing 2 and provide the additional function for the pump electronics E. The electronics 12 comprise electrical and/or electronic components, preferably on a printed-circuit board. The electronics 12 is wholly encapsulated in the housing 2. A cable 10 extends into the housing 2 on the side facing away from the pump electronics E. It is also sealed with respective to the housing 2.
The expansion module 1 further comprises an electrical interface 5 conductively connected to the electronics 12 for plug-in electrical connection of the expansion module 1. This interface 5 for the pluggable electrical connection of the expansion module 1 to the pump electronics projects from the lower face 2a of the housing 2 in order to be plugged through an opening (O in
The total height H between the lower face 2a of the housing 2 and the end of the support element 6 is between 22 mm and 23 mm. Thus the contacting of the electrical interface 5 by corresponding mating contacts, preferably in the form of a circuit board edge connector, is deep inside the housing P of the pump electronics E. The proportion of the base 8 to the total height H is at least 50%, preferably between 60% and 65%.
As shown in particular in
The contacts 7a, 7b comprise first electrical contacts 7a for energizing the electronics 12 inside the expansion module and second electrical contacts 7b for data transmission. Thus, power is supplied to the expansion module 1 by the pump electronics E. The contacts 7b are used for the bidirectional transmission of data in the form of electrical signals between the expansion module 1 and the pump electronics. As can be seen in
The front end or edge 6a of the support element 6 is chamfered on both sides as well as at its faces in order to facilitate insertion into the mating connector on the pump electronics E, e.g. a board-edge connector.
The base 8 is integral with the housing 2 so that there is no gap or seam between the base 8 and the housing 2. The support element 6 is cast in the base 8 i.e. potted by the plastic material forming the base 8. It extends through the base 8 into the interior of the housing 2 of the expansion module 1, where it electrically contacts the electronics 12. A width B of the base 8 is less than 12 mm. Furthermore, a thickness D of the base 8 is less than 4.5 mm. The support element 6 projects from the base 8 through a spacing greater than its width, so that the support element 6 has an overall tongue shape.
The base 8 consists, strictly speaking, of a main part 8 from which the supporting element 6 projects, a foot 15 projecting laterally, in particular on all sides, in relation to the main part 8 and a rim 16 that projects laterally, in particular in all directions, from the main part 8 is connected directly to the housing 2. In other words, the base foot 15 merges into the base foot 16 and the latter into the housing 2. The base 8 thus widens in the direction of the housing 2 in two steps.
In order to seal the opening in the housing of the pump electronics, the base 8 has a sealing ring 11 on the end, more precisely at the outer circumference of the base 15, with two parallel sealing lips 20. The sealing ring 11 extends to the step-like transition at which the base foot 15 the base foot 15 merges into the base 16. In the assembled state of the extension module 1, the sealing ring 20 is in contact with the inside of the opening in the pump electronics housing.
While
The housing 2 of
As in the first embodiment, the extension module 1 can be fastened by two screws that, however, are not shown in
Since the housing 2 of the second expansion module 1 rests in more surface contact on the pump housing than the housing 2 of the first extension module 1, further connection formations between the extension module 1 and the pump housing in the form of four locking elements 4a, 4b are provided. These act at connection points that are at a greater spacing from the electrical interface 5 than the optional screws 3 and lie on the corners of a rectangle. The locking elements 4a, 4b project from the lower face of the housing 2, more precisely from the lower part 2″, in order to be inserted through corresponding holes in the pump electronics housing.
The locking elements 4a, 4b are short posts that project in a block-like manner from the lower face of the housing 2, have a substantially square external shape, and are generally of C-section, which reduces shrinkage of the plastic after injection molding. Suitably, the housing 2 may be made of a thermoplastic material. The locking elements 4a, 4b taper downward, away from the housing 2 in the direction of its extension in the manner of a frustopyramid. This facilitates their insertion into the corresponding openings in the pump electronics housing.
As shown in particular in
It can be seen from
It should be noted that the foregoing description is given by way of example only for the purpose of illustration and in no way purposes of illustration and in no way limits the scope of protection of the invention. restrict the scope of the invention. Features of the invention described as “may”, “exemplary”, “preferred”, “optional”, ideal”, “advantageous”, “where appropriate” or “suitable” are to be regarded as purely optional and also optional and do not limit the scope of protection that is determined exclusively by the claims. which is determined exclusively by the claims. Insofar as elements, components, process steps, values or information are mentioned in the above description, process steps, values or information are mentioned that are known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents. known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, these equivalents are embraced by the invention. Likewise, the invention includes any changes, variations or modifications to any of the examples that involve the substitution, addition, alteration or omission of elements, components, parts or omission of elements, components, process steps, values or information, as long as the invention is information, as long as the basic idea of the invention remains the same, regardless of whether the change idea of the invention is preserved, irrespective of whether the change, modification or alteration leads to an deterioration of an embodiment.
Although the foregoing description of the invention includes a variety of physical, intangible or process features in relation to one or more specific example(s) of the invention, these features may be example(s), these features may also be used in isolation from the specific example, in any example, at least in so far as they do not require the mandatory presence of other features. presence of further features. Conversely, they may be used in relation to one or more example(s) may be combined with each other and with other disclosed or undisclosed features as desired. with other disclosed or undisclosed features of the examples shown or not shown at least to the extent that the features are not mutually exclusive or do not lead to technical mutually exclusive or lead to technical incompatibilities.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102364 | Dec 2020 | LU | national |
