EP3420572A1

EP3420572A1 - Switch device

Info

Publication number: EP3420572A1
Application number: EP17708714.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Muirhead; Friedrich Von Der Luehe
Original assignee: DBK David and Baader GmbH
Current assignee: DBK David and Baader GmbH
Priority date: 2016-02-23
Filing date: 2017-02-22
Publication date: 2019-01-02
Also published as: DE102016103177A1; US10509424B2; WO2017144490A1; US20190050007A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a switch apparatus which comprises a switch device or which is made of said switch device. Two measurement values are monitored by means of two sensors of the switch device, and a switch of the switch device is switched on the basis of the measurement values. The adjustable thresholds for the measurement values are displayed on a digital display which is integrated into the switch device or is arranged on an external input device. The two thresholds are adjusted digitally via the input device. The input device can be a commercial smartphone with an app or a laptop.

Description

switching device

description

The invention relates to an electrical switching device, e.g. a thermostat or a hygrostat according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Electrical switching devices are known which close an electrical contact as a function of one or more measured variables and interrupt it again later. A common example is a thermostat that turns on and off the power supply of a heater depending on a measured temperature (e.g., an iron or oven). Furthermore, hygrostats are known which switch an electrical contact as a function of a measured relative humidity.

More particularly, the invention relates to a thermostat or humidistat used in control cabinets in which e.g. Programmable logic controllers (PLC) are installed. In this case, the temperature or the relative humidity in the control cabinet is monitored. If necessary, electrical consumers connected via the thermostat or hygrostat, such as a heater or a fan, are operated to return the measured temperature or humidity to a desired range. This prevents the formation of condensate on the electrical or electronic components in the control cabinet.

DE 196 28 364 C1 discloses a limit value switch whose limits can be freely configured and entered within predetermined limits. The limit switch has an input unit and a display unit.

DE 10 2013 1 1 1 925 A1 discloses a combination of two thermostats in a housing, wherein a heater is connected to the one thermostat and a fan to the other thermostat. This allows the heater to be switched on if the temperature falls below a lower permissible temperature and if the upper permissible temperature is exceeded, the fan can be switched on. On the Internet at the address

http://www.steqo.de/de/produkte/reqeln/reqler/hyqrotherm.html discloses a switching device which is a combination of thermostat and hygrostat. The one exactly

Switch of the switching device is switched as soon as either the measured temperature or the measured relative humidity reaches the respective limit.

The two last-mentioned switching devices have rotary control for manually setting the limit values at which the switching device should switch. The disadvantage of this is that such dials are freely accessible and can be adjusted as desired. So it is e.g. possible that a person, the on a arranged in the cabinet to be air-conditioned programmable controller setting or

Servicing, turn the control dial to deactivate the heater or fan while working. In the worst case, the person forgets the provision of the rotary knob. In the more favorable case, the person sets the knob back to about the previous limit. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that the set

Limit is readable and adjustable only with great inaccuracy. This inaccuracy is compounded by the significant hysteresis that such knobs have.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object to provide a switching device in which eliminates the disadvantages mentioned or at least reduced.

This object is achieved by a switching device having the features of patent claim 1.

The claimed switching device has a switching device which has at least one sensor for determining a respective measured value and an electrical switch. The switch is automatically switched as a function of the at least one measured value upon reaching a respective adjustable limit value. According to the invention, the at least one limit value can only be transmitted to the switching device via an electronic interface, and it can be displayed on an electronic digital display. Thus, the at least one set limit can not be changed arbitrarily by unauthorized persons. Furthermore, the limit value can be read and set with high accuracy. Particularly comfortable is the operation of the switching device, since the at least one limit value with a spaced from the switching device separate input unit such as an input device, is adjustable. According to the invention, this input unit can only be connected to the switching device via the interface, so that the limit value can only be transmitted to the switching device via the interface.

Preferably, the switching device has exactly one switch for supplying exactly one consumer. Preferably, the switching device is accommodated with the switch and the at least one sensor in a housing. The display is preferably an LCD display.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

Based on the electronic design of the switching device, it is also advantageously possible to program the at least one limit value. In particular, the at least one threshold at which the switch is switched is programmable depending on one or more conditions or on time.

In a preferred development, the at least one limit value can be permanently stored even in the event of a power failure in the switching device or in the switching device.

Preferably, a possible error can be determined by the switching device and transmitted via the interface, a corresponding signal to the input unit, so that it outputs a visual or audible error alarm.

It is particularly preferred if the input device is a smartphone or a computer, e.g. Laptop or tablet is. For easy handling, especially on the smartphone, the at least one limit can be set and readable via an app. If necessary, the at least one measured value can also be read via the app.

If necessary we also issue the error alarm via the app. In another variant, the input unit is assigned to a programmable logic circuit (PLC) or integrated into it. The programmable logic

The circuit is accommodated in a control cabinet whose temperature and / or relative humidity is controlled by the switching device.

The display can be provided on the housing of the switching device or on a housing of the input device.

In an informative development, the at least one current measured value and / or the current switching state of the switch can also be displayed on the display.

The switching device according to the invention may also have two displays, so that the at least one limit value and possibly also the at least one measured value and / or the switching state on the one hand on the display on the housing of

Switching device and on the other hand on the display on the housing of the input unit is displayed.

For compatibility, the interface may be based on a Local Area Network (LAN).

The operation of the switching device is particularly convenient if the interface is based on wireless data transmission. For compatibility, Bluetooth or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is preferred.

Particularly preferred is a USB interface. Preferably, a mini-USB plug is provided on the switching device.

If a thermostat or a hygrostat are arranged in the switching device, the switching device is particularly suitable for monitoring, for example, a control cabinet. Preferably, thermostat and hygrostat are provided together in the switching device. For this purpose, a sensor for detecting the temperature and a sensor for detecting the relative humidity in the switching device are provided. Furthermore, a corresponding Temperature limit and a relative humidity limit set or programmed, both of which are shown on the display. By monitoring the two climate-relevant measured values, the switching device is particularly well suited for air conditioning, for example, a control cabinet. The display shows or the two displays preferably also indicate the currently measured temperature and the currently measured relative air humidity. In switching devices with a thermostat and with a hygrostat and with the known from the prior art dials occur inaccuracies of up to 15K and 10% relative humidity. The electronic digital switching device according to the invention with a thermostat and with a hygrostat has significantly improved setting accuracies of about 6K and 5% relative humidity.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing of the switching device is designed such that it can be attached to a rail. Preferably, the rail is DIN-standardized.

According to the invention, a control cabinet has the rail, in particular DIN standardized, to which the switching device of a previously described switching device is fastened. In the control cabinet, a heater or a fan is included, which is connected to the switching device.

An embodiment of the switching device according to the invention is shown in the figures.

Show it

1 shows the embodiment of the switching device according to the invention in a view,

2 shows a view of the upper end side of the switching device of the switching device of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view of the lower end face of the switching device of the switching device of Figure 1 and

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the switching device of the preceding figures. Figure 1 shows the embodiment of the switching device according to the invention. It has a switching device 1 and a commercially available laptop 2, which are connected to each other via a USB cable 4. The switching device 1 has a substantially cuboidal housing 6, at its upper end face 8 a (not shown in detail in Figure 1) mini-USB connector 10 is provided.

The switching device 1 at its lower end face 14 five numbered electrical connections 16. The electrical connections 16 are used as cable entries or

Strands provided. They are fastened by screwing by means of so-called paternoster clamps, wherein the screwing takes place without removing a cover through access openings 17.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of the switching device 1. A combination of a thermostat 18 and a hygrostat 20 is provided in its interior, the switching device also being referred to as "hygrotherm." The two electrical connections 16 with the numbers 1 and 2 serve to supply the thermostat 18 and the hygrostat 20. In The thermostat 18 and the hygrostat 20 each have an adjustable limit value stored in. A respective current measured value d, φ is regularly determined by means of a temperature sensor and a relative humidity sensor As soon as one of the two current measured values d, φ reaches the assigned limit value, a switch 22 is switched, whereby the two electrical connections 16 with the numbers 3 and 5 are connected to one another, whereby an electrical heater 24 is supplied with electricity, and the ambient air of the switching device 1 is heated, whereby the relative air humidity is lowered affected measured value d, φ again below the set limit The switch 22 is again switched to the position shown in FIG. 4, whereby the heater 24 is switched off. Instead of the heater shown in Figure 4, one or more other electrical loads, such as fans can be switched.

Figure 1 shows at the upper end face 8 and at the lower end face 14 of the housing 6 respective ventilation slots 26. Furthermore, 6 Durchgangsausnehmungen 30 are also provided on a front side 28 of the housing, so that the thermostat 18 and the humidistat 20 or the switching device 1 can react as quickly as possible to changes in the ambient air.

The setting of the limits for temperature and relative humidity are entered via a keyboard 32 of the laptop 2 and displayed on a display 34 of the laptop and on a display 35 of the switching device 1. Furthermore, the current measured value d of the temperature and the current measured value φ of the relative humidity on both displays 34, 35 are also displayed. Finally, the state of the switch 22 (see Figure 4) in both displays 34, 35 is displayed.

The data exchange takes place bidirectionally between the laptop 2 and the switching device 1 via a USB interface, of which only the USB cable 4 is shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the upper end face 8 of the housing 6 of the switching device 1. In this case, the plurality of ventilation slots 26 and the mini-USB connector 10 is shown, into which a plug of the USB cable 4 (see FIG.

Furthermore, in Figure 2, two integrally formed with the housing 6 clip elements 36 are shown, both of which can embrace a common side of a DIN-standard DIN rail (not shown), whereby the housing 6 of the switching device can be mounted in a equipped with the corresponding rail switch cabinet ,

Figure 3 shows with regard to the lower end face 14 of the housing 6, two further integrally formed with the housing 6 clip elements 38, which are opposite to those of Figure 2 and so the (not shown) rail can engage around on its opposite side.

In a preferred application, a programmable logic controller (PLC) is accommodated in the control cabinet, at the electronic and electrical elements, the formation of condensate from the ambient air is avoided by the switching device according to the invention. As already explained in the introduction to the description, in deviation from the exemplary embodiment shown, instead of the laptop 2, in particular a smartphone may also be provided as the input unit, and / or wireless data transmission via Bluetooth instead of the USB cable 4. On the smartphone then a corresponding app is installed.

Disclosed is a switching device comprising or formed by a switching device. Two measured values are monitored by means of two sensors of the switching device, and a switch of the switching device is switched as a function of these measured values. The adjustable limit values for the measured values are displayed on a digital display which is integrated in the switching device or arranged on an external input device. The two limit values are set digitally via the input device. The input device may be a standard smartphone with an app or a laptop.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 switching device

2 laptop

4 USB cables

6 housing

8 upper end side

10 mini USB connectors

14 lower end face

16 electrical connection

17 access opening

18 thermostat

20 hygrostat

22 switches

24 heaters

26 ventilation slot

28 front side

30 through-hole

32 keyboard

34 display

35 display

36 clip element

38 Clip element d Temperature reading Φ Relative humidity reading

Claims

claims

1 . Switching device with a switching device (1), which has a sensor for determining at least one measured value (d, φ) and an electrical switch (22), wherein the switch (22) is switchable, if the at least one measured value (d, φ) a the limit value can be displayed on a digital display (34, 35), characterized in that the limit value can only be transmitted to the switching device (1) via an interface (4, 10), and that a separate input unit ( 2) is provided, at which the at least one limit value is adjustable, and of which the

Limit value via the interface (4, 10) to the switching device (1) is transferable.

2. Switching device according to claim 1, wherein the limit value is programmable.

3. Switching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the limit value permanently in the switching device (1) can be stored.

4. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the input unit (2) is a computer or a smartphone.

5. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display (35) on the switching device (1) is provided.

6. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display (34) on the input unit (2) is provided.

7. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one measured value (d, φ) on the display (34, 35) can be displayed.

8. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching state of the switch (22) on the display (34, 35) can be displayed.

9. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface is based on a Local Area Network.

10. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface is based on a wireless data transmission.

1 1. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface is a USB interface (4, 10).

12. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the switching device (1) a thermostat (18) and / or a hygrostat (20) are arranged / is.

13. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a housing (6) of the switching device (1) is designed such that it can be fastened to a rail.