Safety device for the safe activation of connected actuators

• US 20090222112A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Original Assignee: Sick AG (Sick)
• Inventors: Moddemann, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40006 Architecture of a communication node current supply arrangements H04L12/10; intermediate storage or scheduling H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems

Abstract

A safety device (10) is set forth having at least one safety control (14) and having a plurality of outputs (22a-22j) for the safe activation of connected actuators (24a, 24b) and having inputs (18a-18e) for the reception of signals of connected sensors (20a, 20b) as well as having a serial communications device (26), in particular a bus which connects the safety control (14) to the outputs (22a-22j) and to the inputs (18a-18e), to receive and/or to transmit data packets. In this respect, in addition to the serial communication (26) at least one bypass line (36) is provided which connects the safety control (14) or an input (18a-18e) to at least one output (22a-22j) to be able to transmit a deactivation signal independently of the serial communication (26) to an actuator (24a, 24b) connected to the output (22a-22j).

Claims

1. A safety device (10) having at least one safety control (14) and having a plurality of outputs (22a-22j) for the safe activation of connected actuators (24a, 24b) and having inputs (18a-18e) for the reception of signals of connected sensors (20a, 20b) as well as having a serial communications device (26), in particular a bus, which connects the safety control (14) to the outputs (22a-22j) and to the inputs (18a-18e) to receive and/or to transmit data packets, characterized in that,

in addition to the serial communication (26) at least one bypass line (36) is provided which connects the safety control (14) or an input (18a-18e) to at least one output (22a-22j) to be able to transmit a deactivation signal independently of the serial communication (26) to an actuator (24a, 24b) connected to the output (22a-22j).

2. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein respective groups of inputs (18a-18e) and/or of outputs (22a-22j) are combined together in a module (16a-16e) to form a modular safety switching device (10) in particular in the form of a module series;

and/or wherein each module (16a-16e) is arranged in a housing, in particular a similar housing, each having a plug (38a-38c) and a socket (38a-38c) for plugging into one another.

3. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the safety control (14) is provided in a separate control module (12);

and wherein the control module (12) in particular itself has inputs and/or outputs.

4. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one first and one second bypass line (36a, 36b) are provided;

and wherein the first bypass line (36a) connects the safety control (14) to at least one output (22a-22d) and the second bypass line (36b) connects at least one input (40a, 40b) to at least one output (22-e22j).

5. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outputs (22a-22j) are made to be configured to the bypass line (36);

and wherein the configuring lays down for each output (22a-22j) connected to the bypass line (36) whether this output (22a-22j) should deactivate the connected actuator (24a, 24b) or not in response to the deactivation signal.

6. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inputs (18a-18c), the outputs (22a-22j), the safety control (14), the serial communications device (26) and/or the bypass line (36) are made for a function test and/or failsafe, in particular with two channels.

7. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein an external system control is provided and the safety control (14) is made such that controls of the actuators (24a, 24b) from the system control only act on the actuators (24a, 24b) when the safety control consents.

8. A safety device (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the safety control (14) is made to additionally transmit a deactivation signal over the serial communications device (26);

and/or wherein the outputs (22a-22j) are made such that a switching on of a connected actuator (24a, 24b) can only take place when the safety control (14) consents.

9. A safety method for the safe deactivation of actuators (24a, 24b) connected to a plurality of outputs (22a-22j) in dependence on sensor signals, wherein the outputs (22a-22j) are controlled and communicate via a serial communications device (26), in particular a bus,

characterized in that,

on the deactivation, a deactivation signal is transmitted by the serial communication (26) over a bypass line (36) to at least one output (22a-22j) and to the actuator (24a, 24b) connected thereto.

10. A safety method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the deactivation signal is transmitted to a first group of outputs (22a-22d) over a first bypass line (36a) and to a second group of outputs (22e-22j) over a second bypass line (36b);

and/or wherein the deactivation signal is generated by at least one safety control (14) and/or by at least one input (40a, 40b) to which a sensor (20c, 20d) is connected.

11. A safety method in accordance with claim 9, wherein a decision is made by means of a configuration for outputs (22a-22j) connected to the bypass line (36) whether the respective output should deactivate the connected actuator (24a, 24b) or not in response to a deactivation signal received over the bypass line (36).

12. A safety method in accordance with claim 9, wherein a safety control (14) controls the outputs (22a-22j), the inputs (18a-18e), the serial communications device (26) and the bypass line (36);

and/or wherein the safety control (14) transmits a deactivation signal additionally to the bypass line (36) over the serial communications device (26).

13. A safety method in accordance with claim 12, wherein activations of an external system control are transmitted to the outputs (22a-22j) and these activations can only act on the actuators (24a, 24b) when the safety control (14) consents;

and/or wherein a switching on of an actuator (24a, 24b) connected to an output (22a-22j) can only take place when the safety control (14) consents.