SAFETY CHAIN CIRCUIT

• US 20150192906A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Otis Elevator Company (Otis Worldwide Corp.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Kyle W., Marvin, Daryl J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,146,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/28 electrical detecting excessive speed B66B5/04 ; control of electrical motor H02P
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/22 Operation of door or gate contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/08 controlled by light

Abstract

A safety chain circuit includes a plurality of protection devices connected between a first chain end and a second chain end, and an amplifier. The amplifier includes a first device switch and a second device switch connected between an input and an output, a first enabling switch connected between the second chain end and a second enabling switch, and a first control switch and a second control switch. The first enabling switch selectively enables the first control switch to control the first device switch. The second enabling switch selectively enables the second control switch to control the second device switch. The first control switch, when enabled, selectively controls the first device switch in response to receiving a first control signal. The second control switch, when enabled, selectively controls the second device switch in response to receiving a second control signal.

Claims

1. A safety chain circuit for use with a control system that provides a first control signal and a second control signal, the safety chain circuit comprising:

a plurality of protection devices serially connected between a first chain end and a second chain end; and

an amplifier including a first device switch and a second device switch serially connected between a power input and a power output, a first enabling switch connected between the second chain end and a second enabling switch, and a first control switch and a second control switch;

wherein the first enabling switch is operable to enable the first control switch to control the first device switch, and the second enabling switch is operable to enable the second control switch to control the second device switch; and

wherein the enabled first control switch is operable to control the first device switch in response to receiving the first control signal, and the enabled second control switch is operable to control the second device switch in response to receiving the second control signal.

2. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the first control switch is connected between the first enabling switch and the first device switch, and the second control switch is connected between the second enabling switch and the second device switch.

3. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the first chain end is connected to a first power source, and the power input is connected to a second power source that is different than the first power source.

4. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the second chain end is electrically isolated from the power output.

5. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the first enabling switch and the second enabling switch are operable to respectively enable the first control switch and the second control switch in a safe mode, and respectively disable the first control switch and the second control switch in an unsafe mode.

6. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein

the amplifier further includes a safety chain monitor operable to monitor status of the plurality of protection devices;

and

the second enabling switch is connected between the first enabling switch and the safety chain monitor.

7. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein

the amplifier further includes a first monitor switch connected to the first device switch;

and

the first monitor switch is operable to monitor status of the first device switch.

8. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein

the amplifier further includes a second monitor switch connected to the second device switch;

and

the second monitor switch is operable to monitor status of the second device switch.

9. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein

the amplifier further includes a safety chain monitor operable to monitor status of the plurality of protection devices, a first monitor switch operable to monitor status of the first device switch, and a second monitor switch operable to monitor status of the second device switch;

the safety chain monitor, the first monitor switch and the second monitor switch are further operable to provide respective feedback signals to the control system indicative of the status of the plurality of protection devices, the first device switch and the second device switch; and

the second enabling switch is connected between the first enabling switch and the safety chain monitor, the first monitor switch is connected to the first device switch, and the second monitor switch is connected to the second device switch.

10. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the first enabling switch is operable to connect the first device switch to an electrical ground through the first control switch.

11. The safety chain circuit of claim 10, wherein the second enabling switch is operable to connect the second control switch to the electrical ground such that the second control switch is operable to receive the second control signal.

12. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protection devices comprise a plurality of elevator protection devices.

13. The safety chain circuit of claim 12, wherein one of the plurality of elevator protection devices comprises one of an elevator door lock contact, an elevator emergency switch and an elevator overspeed device.

14. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protection devices comprise one of a plurality of escalator protection devices and a plurality of industrial automation system protection devices.

15. The safety chain circuit of claim 1, wherein the first control switch comprises a solid state first control switch, and the second control switch comprises a solid state second control switch.

16. An elevator system, comprising:

one or more elevator drive components respectively connected to one or more disconnect switches;

an elevator drive control system operable to control one or more elevator drive components, and provide a first control signal and a second control signal;

a plurality of elevator protection devices serially connected between a first power source and a chain end; and

an amplifier including a first device switch and a second device switch serially connected between a second power source and the one or more disconnect switches, a first enabling switch connected between the chain end and a second enabling switch, and a solid state first control switch and a solid state second control switch;

wherein the first enabling switch is operable to enable the first control switch to control the first device switch, and the second enabling switch is operable to enable the second control switch to control the second device switch; and

wherein the enabled first control switch is operable to control the first device switch in response to receiving the first control signal, and the enabled second control switch is operable to control the second device switch in response to receiving the second control signal.

17. The elevator system of claim 16, wherein

the first enabling switch and the second enabling switch are operable to respectively enable the first control switch and the second control switch in a safe mode, and respectively disable the first control switch and the second control switch in an unsafe mode;

and

the second power source is operable to provide electrical power to the one or more disconnect switches through the first device switch and the second device switch in the safe mode, but not in the unsafe mode.

18. The elevator system of claim 16, wherein

the first enabling switch is operable to connect the first device switch to an electrical ground through the first control switch;

and

the second enabling switch is operable to connect the second control switch to the electrical ground such that the second control switch is operable to receive the second control signal.

19. The elevator system of claim 16, wherein the one or more elevator drive components comprises at least one of an elevator drive and an elevator machine brake.

20. An escalator system, comprising:

one or more escalator drive components respectively connected to one or more disconnect switches;

an escalator drive control system operable to control one or more escalator drive components, and provide a first control signal and a second control signal;

a plurality of escalator protection devices serially connected between a first power source and a chain end; and

an amplifier including a first device switch and a second device switch serially connected between a second power source and the one or more disconnect switches, a first enabling switch connected between the chain end and a second enabling switch, and a solid state first control switch and a solid state second control switch;

wherein the first enabling switch is operable to enable the first control switch to control the first device switch, and the second enabling switch is operable to enable the second control switch to control the second device switch; and

wherein the enabled first control switch is operable to control the first device switch in response to receiving the first control signal, and the enabled second control switch is operable to control the second device switch in response to receiving the second control signal.