Housing module and field device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11877417-B2
Application number	US-202017626233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2020
Priority date	Jul 11, 2019
Publication date	Jan 16, 2024
Grant date	Jan 16, 2024

Abstract

A housing module of a field device includes: a housing including a first housing chamber and a second housing chamber separated by a partition wall; measurement/control electronics disposed in the first housing chamber; interface electronics for connecting lines for supplying energy to the field device arranged in the second housing chamber, wherein the housing includes a first wall region to receive the partition wall, the first wall region separated from the partition wall by a gap having a path length, wherein the ratio of a gap width to the path length is less than 0.02; and a securing device for limiting a range of movement of the partition wall toward the second housing chamber, wherein the housing includes a second wall region with a groove extending parallel to a cross-sectional plane of the partition wall, the securing device including an engagement device to engage in the groove.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A housing module of a field device of measurement and automation technology, the housing module comprising:
a housing including a housing wall, which defines a first housing chamber and a second housing chamber, wherein the first housing chamber and the second housing chamber are separated by a partition wall, which is releasably fastened;
a measurement/operating electronics unit disposed in the first housing chamber;
an interface electronics unit disposed in the second housing chamber and configured to enable connecting lines for supplying power to the field device and/or for exchanging data, wherein the housing wall includes, on an interior side, a first wall region configured to receive the partition wall, the first wall region separated from a lateral surface of the partition wall by a gap surrounding the partition wall, the gap having a gap width and a path length in a plane containing a longitudinal section of the partition wall,
wherein a ratio of the gap width to the path length is less than 0.05 and meets requirements of an Ex-d standard according to IEC60079-1 of 2014-06 and EN60079-1 of 2014-06; and
a securing device configured to limit a range of movement of the partition wall toward the second housing chamber,
wherein the housing wall includes, on the interior side, a second wall region in which the housing wall includes, at least in parts, at least one groove, the at least one groove extending parallel to a cross-sectional plane of the partition wall,
wherein the securing device includes an engagement device configured to engage in the at least one groove, wherein the engagement device includes at least two engagement elements that are configured such that, when the securing device is installed in the second housing chamber, the at least two engagement elements are guided from an initial position into a target position in an associated groove, and
wherein the at least two engagement elements are further configured to be fixed in the target position by a fastening device.

2. The housing module of claim 1 , wherein the securing device includes a holding device with a main body configured to hold the at least two engagement elements movably in the initial position, wherein the holding device is configured to guide the at least two engagement elements into the target position during installation.

3. The housing module of claim 2 , wherein each of the at least two engagement elements includes at least two notches, each having a first notch end facing the associated groove and a second notch end opposite the associated groove,
wherein the holding device includes at least one first guide body for each of the at least two notches, wherein each first guide body, in an area of its corresponding notch, surrounds the corresponding engagement element from a side of the engagement element which faces the initial position,
wherein each first guide body includes a guide head that engages in the corresponding notch and is configured to cause the engagement element to be guided via the second notch end.

4. The housing module of claim 3 , wherein each guide head includes a first inclined surface on the associated second notch end, which extends obliquely with respect to the cross-sectional plane of the partition wall,
wherein the first inclined surface is configured to impart a component of movement in a direction of the main body upon movement of the engagement element to its target position.

5. The housing module of claim 2 , wherein for each engagement element the holding device includes at least one second guide body, which protrudes from the main body, wherein each second guide body includes at least one second inclined surface, which second inclined surface extends obliquely with respect to the cross-sectional plane of the partition wall,
wherein the second inclined surface is configured to impart to a component of movement parallel to a cross-sectional surface of the partition wall in a direction of the housing wall upon movement of the engagement element to its target position.

6. The housing module of claim 1 , wherein the partition wall includes at least one first hole having with an internal thread for each engagement element,
wherein each engagement element includes a through-hole, each through-hole being coaxial with the corresponding first hole when the engagement elements are in their respective target positions,
wherein each engagement element is fixed in the target position by screws that each engage in the internal thread of the corresponding first hole.

7. The housing module of claim 6 , wherein for each screw the holding device includes a receiving device configured to receive a screw head of the corresponding screw,
wherein, when an engagement element is fixed in its target position by the corresponding screw, the screw head of the corresponding screw is countersunk in the receiving device.

8. The housing module of claim 2 , wherein the holding device is made of a plastic material using injection molding.

9. The housing module of claim 1 , wherein each engagement element is made of a metal or a metal alloy.

10. The housing module of claim 3 , wherein the partition wall includes at least one recess adapted to at least partially receive the at least one first guide body.

11. The housing module of claim 1 , wherein the partition wall has a feedthrough configured to enable an electrical connection between the measurement/control electronics and the interface electronics,
wherein the feedthrough is disposed in a through-opening of the partition wall.

12. A field device of measurement and automation technology, the field device comprising:
a housing module according to claim 1 ;
a measuring transducer configured to detect at least one measured variable and generate a measurement signal representing the at least one measured variable,
wherein the measurement/control electronics unit is configured to determine and generate measured values of the at least one measured variable based on the measurement signal.

Assignees

• Flowtec Ag

Inventors

• Beissert Markus
• Müller Harald
• Binzer Martin

Classifications

• H05K7/1462 Primary

  for programmable logic controllers [PLC] for automation or industrial process control · CPC title

• G01D11/245

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• G01D11/24 Primary

  Housings {; Casings for instruments} · CPC title

• H05K5/06

  Hermetically-sealed casings {(specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095)} · CPC title

• H02B1/28

  dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof · CPC title