WITH MODULAR CONNECTING DEVICE OF EQUIPMENTS ELECTRICAL ENGINE.

The present invention relates to an electric motor, in particular for a pump unit, equipped with a joining means comprising a set of terminals connected to respective various winding wires of this engine, the terminals of the set of terminals being connected inside the joining means to a set of terminals function for an interface connections to plug pins provided for connection with the terminal plug-tapped or claw to a removable function module performs at least one control function of the motor, for example control, monitoring, engine protection.

The pumps are generally embedded in liquid circulation systems which provide, in the manner of the heart in the human or animal body, life support for holding of the larger installations as the heating installations of a dwelling unit. The electric motors driving these pumps are mostly asynchronous motors and are connected directly to the three phase power distribution network or single-phase. Regulating the running of these engines is via a terminal box mounted directly on the engine in order to be connected to the various windings of the motor by electrical connections permanently mounted within the frame of the motor. The monitoring and control of operation of the motor are achieved via cable connections established between the terminal box and means external monitoring.

In order to avoid the establishment of cable connections to temperature controllers and control, it has already been proposed future plug directly to the terminal box of the motor a protection module of the engine adapted to disconnect the motor of the electrical network supplied to terminal box thereof, in case of engine overheating or blocking its rotation. Alternatively, the same has been proposed to provide a terminal box having removable pins or plugs which engage directly on motor winding taps which are embedded within the frame of the motor.

Carried out further commonly modules for manually selecting the speed asynchronous motors (preferably single-phase asynchronous motors which it is easier to vary the sliding rotor) constituted by a housing gear selection which, either has a knob gear-changing and plugs into a socket connected to the winding of the motor, either plugs into various gear positions on a base plate connected to the windings of the motor fixedly.

US-4 656,378 describes an electric motor stator comprising joining means, sets of terminals, a removable function module performing a thermal protection of the motor by means of a surface heat-sensitive. Said protection module is connected by a plug-in terminal taken at terminals of a connector of stator forming a joining means. Furthermore, of to-3 342,967 describes an electric motor pump including pluggable components forming function modules provided with wire connections to the outside. The exchangeable features module can control the speed of the engine (including using a rate switching button), the power of the engine, as well as the safety device of the engine and the sensitivity of the safety device.

All these known devices can avoid the need to establish wired links to a monitoring package separate from the engine and can lower the cost and reduce the footprint of the overall function drive and control of the pumping arrangement provided with the electric motor drive. The need arise is however expressed perform to pump technology, in particular for the heating assemblies of buildings, where regulation is much more complex and automated, with in particular the intervention of clocks for scheduling on the one or more pumps (e) requiring available various mounting options and wherein the pump motors available must, for performing these functions, be connected respectively directly or remotely and differently to separate means of regulating and monitoring.

The present invention has an aim of facilitating the connection pump-motors to members for regulating and monitoring selected optionally, using an engine equipped with a joining means standard for all engine and provided with electrical contacts can easily be handled by an electrician or even a single installer without the need for soldering or special tools.

To this end, according to the invention, one of the function modules comprises only removable pins or terminals of the plug onto the interface of the engine and their connection to a device for monitoring the operation of the engine indicating either locally or remotely, for example, the presence of the supply voltage and/or the direction of rotation of motor and/or motor failure.

Another removable function modules can include a clock programming engine operation, optionally with a selection system operation of the motor in an automatic programming or manual operation, this clock being fitted removably on the module to enable its exchange and/or layout remote teleadjustment purposes.

Alternatively, when the joining means has terminals for adjusting the speed for connection to a housing switchable manual selection of speed, the housing switchable gear selection is plugged onto the set of terminals speed setting through a housing of the function module.

In yet another embodiment, the removable features module has a branch connected to the terminal of speed setting in place of the housing switchable gear selection, to a control device independent of the motor and capable remote indication of the rotational direction of the motor and/or the presence of the voltage on the motor and/or remote ensure the operational reliability of the engine.

According to yet another embodiment, the functional modules may each include output terminals for the associate together to perform for example a remote alarm collectively.

Other purposes, advantages and features will appear upon reading the description of various embodiments of the invention, made not exclusively and opposite of the attached drawing, where:

figure 1 -

represents schematically and in exploded view a motor according to the invention with two types of releasable elements fitted onto a base where it is likely to be equipped with;

figure 2 -

schematically shows an engine according to the invention with the various kinds of elements removable plug that may be receiving optional according to the monitoring and control functions to be performed on the engine;

figure 3 -

schematically depicts one of the displacement members pluggable "function module" that is mounted on the electric motor according to the invention;

4 - figure

schematically depicts another embodiment of the inventive motor with the various kinds of elements removable plug-it is likely to be equipped with;

5 - figure

schematically depicts yet another embodiment of the inventive motor with the various types of plug-in elements on a base where it is liable to be equipped.

In Figure 1, there is shown schematically a asynchronous electric motor 1 and 2 that has windings of the stator 3 are connected, by an internal wiring 5 in a base 4 which overcomes the engine, to a set of terminals 6 for adjusting the speed of the motor. To permit adjustment of the engine speed, the winding of each phase of the asynchronous motor is for example divided into several lengths that are alternately coupled or non-coupled in series or in parallel, thereby providing a relatively good efficiency of the engine for all speeds of rotation of the pump, imposed in fact the electric motor rotor by the resisting torque of the rotor of the pump.

The game terminal gear 6 has terminals 7 on the side of the winding of the motor and 2 8 terminals on the input side of the power supply voltage. When the engine 1 is in operation, the terminals 7 and 8 are connected together via a switchable housing 9 which is attached thereon. The housing switchable 9 may include a manual adjustment knob 10 or it can be inserted in various orientations each of which provides a different rotational speed of the engine. Alternatively, the housing 9 switching speed setting can be connected by a cable 11 to a relay station operable gear automatic or remotely located.

The terminals 8 (of the set of terminals 6) placed on the side of the input voltage are connected to the inside of the base 4 to a set of terminals function 12 forming an interface on which plugs into a function module 13. Here is shown schematically in Figure 1, a first function module 13a (see Figure 2) by performing a minimum of functions and consisting of a printed circuit board 14 housed in a casing 31 and fitted with pins 15 susceptible to plugging simply and without the use of special tools (e.g. solder) on the terminals tapped or claw 16 of the set of terminals based on the printed circuit board 12 . 14 has a housing 17 through which the housing switchable gear selection and the head plate 9, leading to the outside, an indicator light 18 (for example a small neon lamp) of the presence of the voltage on the motor. The printed circuit board 14 may include, in mounting plugged and therefore interchangeable and easy to replace in the event of failure, a rotation direction sensor indicative of the engine 19 by lamps are turned on and off alternately neon 20, the direction of rotation of the rotor of the motor 1 when this motor is a three phase motor. The electrical connections of the printed circuit board 14 terminate at a set of terminals or terminal block 21 to the outside, by a cable 22-feeding phases of the power grid and the link to members for remote control and remote control. After placing the function module 13 and the housing switchable gear selection 9 to connect the wires of the cable 22 to the terminal block 21, the entire function module housed within the shell 31 is covered by a cover 23 through which are pierced windows 24 and 25 showing the indicated rotation direction sensor signal light 19 and 18 of motor voltage.

The upper portion of Figure 1, there is shown another function module 13b being mountable to the set of terminals 12 function in place of the previous function module that will be hereinafter referred to as 13a. Module elements 13b, identical to those of the module 13a, bear the same reference marks. The printed circuit board 14b of module includes also a passage 17 for the switch box speed 9 and the luminous motor voltage 15 18 along with the plug on the housing 12. function of the printed circuit board 14b additionally carries a device 26 motor thermal protection with a manual reset button 27 which will exceed outside of the cover 23. A terminal block 21b is connected through a line 22 to the three-phase network and to elements of remote monitoring and remote monitoring possible.

Is shown in Figure 2 all of the various function modules in separate 4 mounted on the header that overcomes the engine, by way of connections has or b. plugged respectively on the game terminal function 12 or on the game terminals 6 speed. The function module is recognized 13a equipped with the device for monitoring the operation of the engine, which can be used in first option, and the function module 13b thermal protection device equipped with the engine, which can be used in second option.

As a third option, you can use a module 13c especially provided for remotely monitoring and the electric motor 1. this module simplified 13c has in fact only pins 28 (b-terminals) branch and connecting to the terminals 7 of the set of terminals 6 of the base 4 of the motor and a pilot lamp 18 indicating the activation of the motor 1. it connects the, by a cable 29, terminals to the power grid through organs and/or a table remote control and remote monitoring. The module 13c which provides only branch function may include an integral cap replaces the separate cover 23.

A fourth option function module is the module 13d comprises a clock 30 programming of the motor reverse over time, especially for varying the engine speed to that one is switched on at night or daytime running on a circulator heater. The schedule clock 30 is most often a footprint much larger than that of the function module, is generally spaced from and connected to the function module by a wiring, but some clocks compact and simplified are directly integrated into the module or plug 13d thereon.

Figure 3 represents schematically the connections of the module 13d on its printed circuit board 14d with the elements which connect to the plate 14d 13d within the module when the module and is connected to the engine 1 [...] to say on the set of terminals with the housing 12 function switchable 9 of the shifter inserted therein from the gear set of terminals 6. the stator 2 of the motor 1 having the three three-phase windings are each subdivided into two, here has nine leads which are connected fixedly to the set of terminals gearbox 6 connected to the inside of the base 4 (not shown) tapped across 16 of the set of terminals of a monitor function 12. motor overheating 32 (known under the trade name "[...]") is placed in contact with the wires of the winding of the motor and is connected to two terminals 16 to trigger the power-off of the engine in the event of overheating thereof. The terminals 12 thus provide function on the base 4 of the motor interface connections to plug pins connected easily releasable at 15 set of pins carried by the printed circuit board 14d.

On the bonds of the printed circuit board, is recognized on the supply of the phases of the three phase network from terminals of the L1, L2 is, the terminal array l3 21d, until a switch 33 controlled by the thermal monitoring device 32. The switch 33 is provided with a relay holding defect 34 whose electric and electronic circuits ensure the maintenance of cutting off switch 33 after firing until manual intervention on a switch 35 generally combined with a fault indication, for example to neon lamp. Between the switch 33 and the connecting pins 15 to the set of terminals function, is plugged a rotational direction indicator 36, for example to two lamps 37 and 38 each neon, when burned alone, indicates both that the engine 1 is under tension and is connected to rotate in a given direction of rotation.

The printed circuit board further comprises 14d links to terminals 39 of detachably coupling to a schedule clock 30. The clock 30 which is connected, for its power supply, between the terminals and l2 l1 three phase power supply is typically attached to the functional module 13d to permit its exchange and if required, its disposition remote teleadjustment purposes. In the latter case, a proper wiring is connected to the connection terminals 39 in place of the clock.

According to another embodiment of the engine according to the invention, shown in fig. 4, the engine 1 has a connector plug-and 40 permanently connected to the wires of the motor winding via an internal wiring 5 and this connector 40 receives a terminal box 41 which is removable to mate connections (not shown) of the connector 40 and which is connected through a wire 42 to a power supply of the motor. The terminal box 41 can receive a detachable plug-in connection voltage indicator and direction of rotation 43. According to the invention, the terminal box 41 constitutes a joining means of the engine 1 has an interface connections to plug pins 12 on which can be approached by connecting a function module filling at least a control function of the motor.

See Figure 4 that the interface 12 may, in a first case, may not be used, a cover 44 is attached to the terminal box 41 which then assumes by itself the turn-on of the engine and, if appropriate, the speed setting 9 and the control function of the motor. In a second case, the function module 45 provided with leads 15 to the interface 12, for instance comprises a housing switchable gear selection and a security system engine operating with thermal protection.

In a third case, the function module 46 comprises in addition to the elements of the module 45 a clock 30 for programming the engine is running. In a fourth case of the function module, the module 47 is similar to the module 13c and has only pins and their connection to a cable 29 connected remotely to a control facility and engine monitor, including branching a housing gear selection.

Figure 5 represents another embodiment of a family of electric motors according to the invention. The base 4 of the engine 1 is here permanently connected by wiring internal to a terminal box 50 connected to a power supply of the motor and 51 which has terminals speed control (not shown) intended to be connected to a housing switchable gear selection 9 12 and an interface for connection to different function modules 53, 54, 55. According to a first embodiment of the engine 1, it is provided with only its terminal box and the housing switchable gear selection 9 and the interface 12 that is not being used is covered by a cover 52. According to a second embodiment, the function module 53 is provided with pins 15 connecting to the interface 12 and a security system engine operating with thermal protection as the module 45.

According to the third embodiment shown in Figure 5, the function module 54 includes leads to a clock 30 and according to the fourth embodiment, the function module similar to the module 47 55 includes only the pins 15 and their connections to a cable 29 connected remotely to a control facility and engine monitor. According to the embodiment of Figure 5, the function module that does not involve a switchable selection of housing 9 speed, since the latter is included in the terminal box 50, is a subset completely closed without other output interface 15 whose connections 29 and (in the case of the remote monitoring).

Mounting a motor according to the invention is made from a standard motor equipped with a joining means (base single 4 with or without terminal boxes 41 or 50) standards. Then chosen, for the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, a function module type 13a, 13b, 13c or 13d, as desired by the pumping-is plugged this module on the base 4 by connecting it to external networks means and means optional control and remote monitoring such as a remote alarm. To complete the mounting, it is sufficient to plug in the housing 9 switchable gear selection (it can also be plugged in advance, the printed circuit board subsequent surround the housing 9 by the opening 17) and locate the cover 23.

If it is desired to add to an existing installation of engine according to the invention novel functions, for example remote monitoring and/or remote control, allowed the engine 1 in place with its base 4 and replacing the function module for example by a module for 13a 13c, by the simple expedient, establishing additional functions required.

In the solution shown in Figure 4, the standard motor 1 with its plug-connector 40 is equipped, successively plugged, the terminal box 41 connected to the power supply 42 and provided with the control voltage and direction of rotation 43, then according to the required functions, the cover 44 or one of the function modules 45, 46 or 47 engaged by its pins 15 in the clamps of the interface 12.

The mounting of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 5 is effected from a motor has a base standard 4 connected to a terminal box 50. For mounting, the terminal box 50 is connected to power and a housing 51 provided with switchable 9 mounted in the desired gear position. Recently then skewered on the terminal box 50, according to the required functions, the cover 52 or one of the function modules 53, 54 or 55 by the pins 15. It can well be understood, to perform new functions, a replacement covers 44 or 52 or to that function modules 45, 46, 47 or 53, 54, 55 which is mounted, any one of these covers or function modules.

The function modules of several pumps may include output terminals for the associate assembly, such as for remote alarm collectively. In this case, the terminals of all engine thermal detectors (terminals 60 and 61 on the printed circuit board shown in Figure 3) for example are mounted in series and their outputs are fed to a cabinet (not shown) for remote monitoring, thereby by simple and inexpensive means to remotely detect the failure of any of said pumps driven by these engines.