Automation control enclosure having a glandplate to facilitate input and output connections

Abstract

A system to facilitate the use of an automation control disposed within an enclosure. An automation control, such as a distributed motor starter, is disposed within an enclosure. The control is coupled to modules, such as I/O modules, mounted to a glandplate. The glandplate is mounted to the enclosure over an appropriate opening. Furthermore, the glandplate is designed to accommodate a variety of module arrangements and to facilitate the connection of various data and power lines without individually wiring the lines to a separate terminal block.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system to facilitate the use of an automation control, comprising: 
 an enclosure having a hollow interior defined at least in part by an enclosure wall, wherein the enclosure wall has an opening therethrough;    a plate configured to be mounted adjacent the opening, the plate having a plurality of pass-through regions; and    an I/O module having a connector, wherein a selected pass-through region is opened to receive the connector therethrough.    
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an automation control disposed in the hollow interior and electrically coupled to the I/O module.  
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the automation control comprises a motor starter.  
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a power line to supply electrical power to the automation control, wherein the plate includes an opening to receive the power line therethrough.  
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pass-through regions comprises a plurality of weakened areas that permit openings to be formed through the plate.  
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each weakened area is a circular area.  
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a ground member disposed for grounding contact between the I/O module and the enclosure.  
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprises a plurality of I/O modules having connectors disposed through a plurality of pass-through regions.  
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of markers tags connected to the plate proximate the plurality of I/O modules.  
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plate is sealed to the enclosure.  
     
     
         11 . A system to facilitate the use of an automation control, comprising: 
 an enclosure having an interior configured to receive an automation control; and    a glandplate mounted to the enclosure, wherein the glandplate permits the selection of multiple patterns of openings to the interior.    
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the glandplate includes a ground member.  
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the glandplate includes a plurality of pass-through regions from which the multiple patterns of openings may be selected.  
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pass-through regions comprises a plurality of weakened areas that permit openings to be formed through the plate.  
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein each weakened area is a circular area.  
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of control modules disposed in the interior.  
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a module mounted to the gland plate and having a connector region disposed at one of the plurality of pass-through regions.  
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the module comprises an I/O module.  
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the module comprises a pneumatic module.  
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the module comprises a hydraulic module.  
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the module comprises a plurality of electrical I/O modules.  
     
     
         22 . The system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising an automation control.  
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the automation control comprises a motor starter.  
     
     
         24 . A method for utilizing a common control enclosure with a variety of systems, comprising: 
 forming an enclosure to enclose a automation control;    mounting a glandplate, having an arrangement of covered pass-through regions, to the enclosure;    opening selected pass-through regions of the arrangement of covered pass-through regions; and    establishing automation control input and output lines through the selected pass-through regions.    
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein establishing comprises mounting an I/O module at one or more of the selected pass-through regions.  
     
     
         26 . The system as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising disposing the automation control within the enclosure and coupling the automation control to the I/O module.  
     
     
         27 . The system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein disposing includes disposing a motor starter within the enclosure.  
     
     
         28 . The system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein establishing comprises mounting a plurality of I/O modules at the plurality of selected pass-through regions, and further wherein coupling includes coupling the automation control to the plurality of I/O modules.  
     
     
         29 . The system as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising passing a power line through the glandplate.