Claims:1. A draw-out communication mechanism for communicably connecting at least one withdrawable module to a fixed structure of an electric switchboard, wherein said communication mechanism comprising:
at least two communication adaptors having a floating arrangement and mounted on a support, wherein the support for the first communication adaptor coupled to said fixed structure and the support for the second communication adaptor coupled to said withdrawable module, wherein the first communication adaptor and the second communication adaptor comprising:
at least one communication port, preferably DB-9 communication port having plurality of connector pins;
an arrangement of guiding means having at least one hollow shaft and at least one pipes;
Wherein, said first communication adaptor and said second communication adaptor adapted to displace in a circular direction to enable alignment of said guiding means and thereby engagement of said communication ports on said fixed structure and said withdrawable module with 360°of tolerance absorption.
2. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second communication adaptor is a counterpart of said first communication adaptor.

3. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication ports in combination with said DB-9 communication port comprises different communication protocols selected from RS485-3 pin connector, PROFIBUS-DB9 connector, ModBus TCP-RJ45connector.

4. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support adapted to displace in said circular direction selected from up, down, left, right or any combination thereof.

5. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one adaptor fixing hole and at least one support fixing hole, to provide said 360°of tolerance absorption to said withdrawable module.

6. The mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first communication adaptor and said second communication adaptor is detachably mounted on said support by means of said adaptor fixing hole and said support fixing hole.

7. The mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow shaft comprising circular chamfer from said first communication adaptor adapted to receive pipes from said second communication adaptor by achieving alignment in X direction or Y direction or Z direction.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to draw-out modules/feeder for electric switchboards. More particularly, the subject invention relates to a communication connector arrangement for connecting withdrawable module/feeders of the electric switchboards to the networks.

BACKGROUND

[002] Switchboards such as–Power Control Centre (PCC) and Motor Control Centre (MCC) are connected to Control centre through communication networks. These networks help in exchange of real-time data, necessary for taking any control action form the remote control centers. There are several popular communication protocols that are used worldwide for the above purpose. Each of them has specific standards.

[003] In switchboards, the feeders/ modules provide power supply to motors or other loads. These modules/feeders are sophisticated and have to be very reliable in order to provide uninterrupted power supply to the motor or loads. In case of a fault/ non-functioning of the feeders, these withdrawable feeders are taken out from the switchboard. They are then replaced with equivalent standby module/feeders, so as to ensure continuity of service.

[004] During insertion or removal of these modules/feeders in the switchboard, the connections (Power contacts, Control contacts and Communication contacts) are needed to be aligned with guides and mechanism. This will ensure its foolproof engagement of contacts. (Engagement between moving contacts in the module/feeder and the fixed contacts in switchboard’s structure).

[005] However, until now, only power and control contacts are aligned using guides and mechanism. Communication contacts engagement is still being done manually by the operators. Such manual intervention requirement, sometimes call for negligence by the operator as he may forget to make the necessary connection after inserting the module and/ disconnection during withdrawal of modules. This leads to loss of connectivity in the former and breakage/damage of connectors in the latter.

[006] Moreover, the communication ports are of various types, as they depend on the communication protocol required by the customer. This becomes another challenge to design a mechanism / guide which can adapt to different communication port. Therefore, too many varieties – for different communication protocols with different set of connector assembly is required and different communication port arrangement such as RS485–3Pin connector, PROFIBUS-DB9 connector, ModBus TCP-RJ45 connector.

[007] Therefore there exists a need to provide a guide/mechanism for foolproof engagement of communication contacts. However, challenges are involved with respect to the size of the contact pins in a communication port as they are 0.75- 1mm thick pins. The alignment of male pins to female is critical which often leads to misalignment. Moreover, the module/feeders have an assembly tolerance (tolerance for easy assembly of moving module/feeder in to the fixed structure of the switchboard) of 2.5 mm.

[008] One of the existing Han-modular connectors-docking frame allows "blind" insertion by automatic processes. This is achieved by a floating frame which can move freely in a range of +/- 2 mm. At the same time, very stable leading, centering pins/bushes ensure that the two connector sides are securely connected to each other. However, the prior art product fails to achieve the proper alignment at the required tolerance of the withdrawable module.

[009] Accordingly, there is a need for a plug-in type communication connector arrangement for Withdrawable modules/feeders which is provided in order to ensure connectivity of Withdrawable module/feeders of switchboard to the networks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide communication adaptor arrangement which will guide and align the module’s communication port to the structure’s communication port absorbing the assembly tolerance of the withdrawable feeder module.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a draw-out communication mechanism that connects to the network soon as the module is inserted in to the fixed structure of a switchboard with the required 360°of tolerance absorption.

[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a module’s communication port which is also withdrawable along with the module/feeder so that the loss of data due to missing connection during insertion or damage of port during withdrawal is nil.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a universal port arrangement cum guide which supports different types of connectors compatible to different Communication Protocols.

[0015] According to one aspect, the present invention provide a draw-out communication mechanism for communicably connecting at least one withdrawable module to a fixed structure of an electric switchboard, wherein said communication mechanism comprising:
at least two communication adaptors having a floating arrangement and mounted on a support, wherein the support for the first communication adaptor coupled to said fixed structure and the support for the second communication adaptor coupled to said withdrawable module, wherein the first communication adaptor and the second communication adaptor comprising:
at least one communication port, preferably DB-9 communication port having plurality of connector pins;
an arrangement of guiding means having at least one hollow shaft and at least one pipes;
Wherein, said first communication adaptor and said second communication adaptor adapted to displace in a circular direction to enable alignment of said guiding means and thereby engagement of said communication ports on said fixed structure and said withdrawable module with 360°of tolerance absorption.
[0016] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Figure 1 shows the universal communication adaptor with arrangement of guiding means according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 2 shows the support arrangement for the communication adaptor on both fixed and withdrawable assemblies according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] Figure 3 shows the complete assembly showing door, latch and the sleeve according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 4 shows the Withdrawable module and communication port assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 5 shows the communication adaptor along with the guiding means according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 6 shows possible misalignment indicating the position of the communication port and its adaptor while the feeder is inserted according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0024] Figure 7 shows engagement of the communication adaptors using the guiding means according to one embodiment of the present invention
[0025] Figure 8 shows the male and female connecting pins of the DB-9 communication port according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0027] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0028] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0029] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0030] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0031] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0032] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0033] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0034] It is also to be understood that the term “module” is used in the specification to indicate an apparatus, unit, component and the like. The term “means” when used in the specification is taken to specify the mode by which desired result is achieved.

[0035] The present invention deals with three different assemblies namely: the fixed structure (Switchboard), Withdrawable module/feeder and communication port arrangement. The communication port adaptor cum guide can be used as a universal connector for different Communication Protocols.

[0036] In one embodiment, reference is made to figure 1 which shows the universal communication adaptor with arrangement of guiding means according to one embodiment of the present invention. The communication adaptor is a plug-in type arrangement mounted on a support coupled to a fixed structure of the switchboard and moving structure of the withdrawable modules.

[0037] In one embodiment, reference is made to figure 2 shows the support arrangement for the communication adaptor on both fixed and withdrawable assemblies according to one embodiment of the present invention. The communication adaptor is mounted on the structure of the switchboard using the support assembly and the counterpart of the communication adaptor is mounted on the Withdrawable module using the support assembly. Reference is also made to figure 5, which illustrates the communication adaptor (1) and the arrangement of the guiding means comprising the pip (3) and the hollow shaft (2) which ensures that the pins of the connector are aligned and engaged firmly.

[0038] Reference is made to figure 3 shows the complete assembly showing door, latch and the sleeve according to one embodiment of the present invention. It illustrates the draw-out communication mechanism communicably engaging the fixed structure of the switchboards and withdrawable module.

[0039] Reference is made to figure 4 shows the Withdrawable module and communication port assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] In one embodiment, as shown in figure 3 and 4, the communication adaptor in withdrawable module and the communication adaptor in fixed module are in engaged position. The guide pips and hollow shafts of both Withdrawable module and fixed structure will ensure the integrity and alignment of the Communication connector ports.

[0041] In one embodiment, reference is made to figure 6 shows possible misalignment indicating the position of the communication port and its adaptor while the feeder is inserted according to one embodiment of the invention. It illustrates two types of misalignment in the adaptor- X-direction and Z-direction. (Y is the in which the module is inserted). The first image of figure 6 shows the misalignment in X direction (2mm) and the second image show the misalignment in Z direction (0.75 mm). Both the adaptor are mounted on a supports preferably made of Mild steel.

[0042] In one embodiment, in case of misalignment, two features of this present invention act to ensure their adaptor alignment and thus the communication port also. First, the whole communication assembly with the communication adaptor mounted on the support which is adapted to move in circular direction which is selected from Up/down and Left/right direction. Secondly, the hollow shaft (2) in the opposite adaptor has a circular chamfer, when the misaligned solid pip (3) tries to enter, the chamfer will guide it to the correct axis. The required tolerance for the assembly is given by the adaptor fixing hole (5) and the support fixing hole which may be preferably selected as 3mm and 5 mm respectively. The Circular tolerance is preferably selected of 2mm. When the adaptors are aligned, the communication port (4), preferably DB-9 pins will also be aligned, ensuring proper engagement.

[0043] In one embodiment, reference is made to figure 7 shows engagement of the communication adaptors using the guiding means according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference is made to figure 8 shows the male and female connecting pins of the DB-9 communication port according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] In one embodiment, the present invention ensures that the all the pins of the male port in the feeders/modules (movable) are aligned to the female ports in structure (Fixed) as shown in figure 7.

[0045] In one embodiment, the communication adaptor is designed such that most of the protocol specific ports can be mounted on to this which may be selected from a combination of DB-9 pin with RS485/Modbus RTU (3-pin port), Modbus TCP (LAN –port), PROFIBUS-DP (DB-9 Port).

[0046] Some of the noteworthy features of the present invention are as follows:
• Blind mate connection- No manual intervention is required.
• The pips and hollow shaft are designed to ensure fool-proof alignment and engagement of the connector pins.
• One adaptor arrangement for different protocols like-RS 485, Modbus TCP/IP, PROFIBUS DP.
• The floating arrangement of the communication adaptor to achieve 360°absorption of tolerance of the module.
• The mechanism provides a full-proof engagement of the communication contact using the arrangement of the guiding means without any misalignment.

[0047] Although a draw-out communication port arrangement for switchboards have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the draw-out communication port arrangement for switchboards.