Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Guenther Deinhardt

Otto Meusel

Siegfried Seidel

Heinz-Dieter Muench

Reinhard Schirbl

Werner Meiler

An enclosed input/output module comprising an enclosure (1), at least one printed circuit board (2) arranged along one of the interior surfaces of the enclosure, a cover (3) having an essentially U-shaped receiving channel (4) including a pair of hollow legs, and a process connector (5) that fits within the receiving channel of the cover, wherein the module comprises a second printed circuit board such that the two printed circuit boards fit into the legs of the cover to frame the receiving channel on both sides and both printed circuit boards are free of mounted components, apart from light-emitting diodes, in the portions that frame the receiving channel. The module may additionally include light-emitting diodes (6) on the circuit boards (2), optical waveguides (7), latching elements and recesses (25, 26) for retaining the process connector (5) with respect to the cover (3) in a preliminary position, and/or threaded means (17, 18) for fully joining the process connector (5) to the cover (3). The process connector (5) includes contacts (12) for engagement with blades (9) on the printed circuit boards (2) and screw terminals (14) for connection to wires. The module may additionally include encoding and counter-encoding elements (19, 20) for ensuring a proper match between the process connector (5) and cover (3) and guide bars and grooves (23, 24) asymmetrically designed and/or arranged for ensuring the proper orientation and for guidance of the process connector (5) into the cover (3).

Enclosed input/output module

The invention consists of a box-shaped electrical assembly with a frontal cover and screw connections for the connection of leads accessible from the front. The cable lead openings to the screw connections are located in an open-to-the-front, longitudinal channel located at the front of the assembly. The cover acts as a labeling plate and also functions as a cover for the longitudinal channel and for the screw connections. The screw connections electrically connect an external cable to a plug unit subassembly. The plug unit is connectable with a circuit board enclosed within the assembly. The plug unit is provided with a pivotal axis, and is adapted for connecting to a plug strip that is mechanically and electronically connected to the circuit board.

Box shaped electrical assembly

The invention concerns an electrical system consisting of removable, variably sized, individual sub-assemblies interconnected electrically and physically with an assembly carrier. This assembly carrier provides mounting for connectors of various configurations which mate with the individual sub-assemblies, and also provides mounting for the sub-assemblies themselves. The sub-assembly mounting is by means of a U-shaped projection on which each sub-assembly attaches and then pivots into its secured position. The sub-assembly electrical connectors are mated to the assembly carrier connectors during this pivoting into position. The U-shaped projection is surrounded in a direction perpendicular to the carrier by guide plates providing lateral location and separation of the variably-sized individual sub-assemblies.

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Erlangen, Germany

Guenther Deinhardt