Series interlock system with integrated ability to identify breached locations
First Claim
1. An interlock system comprising:
- a series interlock loop having an overall electrical characteristic comprising;
a first safety interlock comprising a first switch coupled in parallel with a first impedance value;
a second safety interlock electrically coupled in series with the first safety interlock, the second safety interlock comprising a second switch coupled in parallel with a second impedance value; and
a control module communicatively coupled to a data table with values, and configured to receive an indication of the overall electrical characteristic and to compare the overall electrical characteristic to the values in the data table to thereby identify an open one of the first and second safety interlocks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for implementing a series interlock loop. An example of the interlock system includes a series interlock loop, a data table, and a control module. The series interlock loop has an overall electrical characteristic. The series interlock loop includes first and second safety interlocks electrically coupled in series. Each interlock includes a switch coupled in parallel with an impedance value. The data table is configured to store values corresponding to the impedance values. The control module is communicatively coupled to the data table and configured to receive an indication of the overall electrical characteristic and to compare the overall electrical characteristic to the values in the data table to thereby identify an open one of the first and second safety interlocks.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interlock system comprising:
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a series interlock loop having an overall electrical characteristic comprising; a first safety interlock comprising a first switch coupled in parallel with a first impedance value; a second safety interlock electrically coupled in series with the first safety interlock, the second safety interlock comprising a second switch coupled in parallel with a second impedance value; and a control module communicatively coupled to a data table with values, and configured to receive an indication of the overall electrical characteristic and to compare the overall electrical characteristic to the values in the data table to thereby identify an open one of the first and second safety interlocks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system to determine locations of breached interlocks in a series interlock loop comprising:
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a first safety interlock at a first location in the series interlock loop comprising a first open position and a first open interlock impedance value corresponding to the first open position; a second safety interlock at a second location in the series interlock loop electrically coupled in series with the first safety interlock, the second safety interlock comprising a second open position and a second open interlock impedance value corresponding to the second open position; and a sensor configured to measure an overall electrical characteristic of the series interlock loop, wherein the overall electrical characteristic has a first overall impedance value corresponding to the first open interlock impedance value when only the first safety interlock is breached, and a second overall impedance value corresponding to the second open interlock impedance value when only the second safety interlock is breached, wherein the first overall impedance value is different from the second overall impedance value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of implementing a safety interlock system, wherein the safety interlock system comprises a series interlock loop with multiple interlocks each comprising a unique impedance value, a data table storing values corresponding to unique states of the series interlock loop, and an overall electrical characteristic of the series interlock loop, the method comprising:
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obtaining a numerical value representing the overall electrical characteristic of the series interlock loop; identifying a breached interlock by comparing the numerical value to the values stored in the data table; and providing an output indicating the breached interlock. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification