Remotely actuated, circuit testing emergency stop apparatus and method

• US 20020195883A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vince J. Lazzaro
• Original Assignee: Vince J. Lazzaro
• Inventors: Lazzaro, Vince J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,882,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/002 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits

Abstract

The present invention is a remotely actuated emergency stop (E-stop) switch, with equipment control circuitry, providing a method for testing the E-stop switch and control circuitry to assure circuit and switch integrity, anytime, without equipment operational interruption, and without negating the manual actuation function of the E-stop switch to immediately cut all power to the equipment. The E-stop switch includes a first relay governing a first control circuit and a second relay governing a second control circuit. Each control circuit governs a motor source control contactor, which, when closed, provides power to the equipment. Transferring energization, and motor control, from the first control circuit to the second control circuit, and vice-versa, allows testing, in turn, of the de-energized components of the E-stop switch and control circuitry while the equipment remains operational. Remote actuation and circuit monitoring and testing is controlled by a Program Logic Controller (PLC).

Claims

1. An Emergency Stop (E-stop) Switch, comprising:

a. first relay governing a first control circuit in the E-stop switch; and

b. a second relay governing a second control circuit in the E-stop switch;

wherein transferring energization from the first control circuit to the second control circuit, and vice-versa, allows testing of the E-stop switch while;

maintaining electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch; and

maintaining manual actuation capability of the E-stop switch to shut down the equipment served by the E-stop switch in an emergency situation.

2. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein testing of the E-stop switch includes testing of control circuitry for a failed switch, a fused contact, an inadvertent power source, or a ground.

3. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein each relay is any device capable of activating change in an electric circuit in response to a change affecting the device.

4. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein each relay includes at least one coil and at least one associated contact.

5. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein each relay includes at least one motor and at least one associated contact.

6. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein transferring energization is governed by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

7. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein manual actuation of the E-stop switch separates a first contact, or first set of contacts, of each relay such a distance from a second contact, or second set of contacts, of the respective relay, that each relay is incapable of maintaining or achieving a closed, energized state to, thereby, maintain or allow electrical operation of the equipment served by the E-stop switch.

8. The E-stop switch of claim 1, wherein manual actuation of the E-stop switch moves a coil of each relay such a distance that each relay is incapable of maintaining or achieving a closed, energized state to, thereby, maintain or allow electrical operation of the equipment served by the E-stop switch.

9. An Emergency Stop (E-stop) Switch, comprising:

a. a first relay governing a first control circuit in the E-stop switch; and

b. a second relay governing a second control circuit in the E-stop switch;

where in;

one of the first or the second relay is closed to energize the respective control circuit, thereby maintaining electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch;

the other of the first or the second relay is open to de-energize the respective control circuit, thereby allowing testing of the E-stop switch during electrical operation of the equipment served by the E-stop switch; and

manual actuation of the E-stop switch de-activates electrical operation of the equipment served by the E-stop switch.

10. A method for testing an Emergency Stop (E-stop) Switch, comprising the steps of:

a. transferring energization from a first control circuit to a second control circuit to maintain electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch before, during, and after the transfer;

b. testing the first control circuit;

c. transferring energization from the second control circuit to the first control circuit to maintain electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch before, during, and after the transfer; and

d. testing the second control circuit.

11. A method for testing control circuitry of electrically operated equipment served by an Emergency Stop (E-stop) switch, comprising the steps of:

a. transferring energization from a first control circuit to a second control circuit to maintain electrical operation of the equipment before, during, and after the transfer;

b. testing the control circuitry for a failed switch, a fused contact, an inadvertent power source, or a ground;

c. transferring energization from the second control circuit to the first control circuit to maintain electrical operation of the equipment before, during, and after the transfer; and

d. further testing the control circuitry for a failed switch, a fused contact, an inadvertent power source, or a ground.

12. A method for testing control circuitry of electrically operated equipment served by an Emergency Stop (E-stop) switch, comprising the steps of:

a. electrically starting the equipment served by the E-stop switch;

b. remotely activating the E-stop switch, opening all contacts therein, to shut down all power to the equipment; and

c. monitoring control circuitry data during remote E-stop activation to test the control circuitry.

13. A computer-readable medium that configures a computer system to perform a method for testing an Emergency Stop (E-stop) Switch, the method comprising the steps of:

a. transferring energization from a first control circuit to a second control circuit to maintain electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch before, during, and after the transfer;

b. testing the first control circuit;

c. transferring energization from the second control circuit to the first control circuit to maintain electrical operation of equipment served by the E-stop switch before, during, and after the transfer; and

d. testing the second control circuit.

14. A computer-readable medium that configures a computer system to perform a method for testing control circuitry of electrically operated equipment served by an Emergency Stop (E-stop) switch, the method comprising the steps of:

a. transferring energization from a first control circuit to a second control circuit to maintain electrical operation of the equipment before, during, and after the transfer;

testing the control circuitry for a failed switch, a fused contact, an inadvertent power source, or a ground;

b. transferring energization from the second control circuit to the first control circuit to maintain electrical operation of the equipment before, during, and after the transfer; and

c. further testing the control circuitry for a failed switch, a fused contact, an inadvertent power source, or a ground.

15. A computer-readable medium that configures a computer system to perform a method for testing for testing control circuitry of electrically operated equipment served by an Emergency Stop (E-stop) switch, comprising the steps of:

a. electrically starting the equipment served by the E-stop switch;

b. remotely activating the E-stop switch, opening all contacts therein, to shut down all power to the equipment; and

c. monitoring control circuitry data during remote E-stop activation to test the control circuitry.