Safety bus in an industrial device assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11677348-B2
Application number	US-202117446524-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2021
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A motor control center (MCC) for an industrial system includes a plurality of sections and a safety bus. Each section includes one or more units. Each unit includes one or more industrial control devices. The safety bus is configured to receive safety signals from a safety distribution unit and delivers the safety signals to each unit of the plurality of section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor control center (MCC) for an industrial system, the MCC comprising:
a housing comprising:
a section comprising one or more units, wherein each of the one or more units comprises one or more industrial automation devices;
a safety distribution unit configured to:
communicatively couple to a safety device external to the MCC, wherein the safety device is configured to detect a safety hazard and output one or more safety signals indicative of the safety hazard being present and
receive the one or more safety signals from the safety device; and

a safety bus comprising:
a first terminal block communicatively coupled to the safety distribution unit and configured to receive the one or more safety signals from the safety distribution unit and
a second terminal block communicatively coupled to the first terminal block and included in the section, wherein the second terminal block is configured to:
receive the one or more safety signals from the first terminal block; and
deliver the one or more safety signals to each unit of the one or more units.

2. The MCC of claim 1 , comprising a second section, wherein the second section comprises the first terminal block and the safety distribution unit.

3. The MCC of claim 1 , wherein the one or more industrial automation devices comprise one or more starters, one or more drives, one or more electric motors, one or more valves, one or more actuators, one or more temperature elements, one or more pressure sensors, one or more networking sensors, or a combination thereof.

4. The MCC of claim 1 , wherein the safety device comprises ones or more proximity switches, one or more emergency stop pushbuttons, one or more safety mats, one or more light curtains, or a combination thereof.

5. The MCC of claim 1 , wherein the safety distribution unit is configured to provide short-circuit detection and diagnostics.

6. The MCC of claim 1 , wherein the the first terminal block and the second terminal block are configured to connect to one another in series.

7. The MCC of claim 6 , wherein the one or more units are configured to connect to the second terminal block in parallel.

8. The MCC of claim 6 , wherein the safety bus comprises a single channel comprising a single shielded cable configured to connect the first terminal block to the second terminal block and configured to convey the one or more safety signals from the first terminal block to the second terminal block, wherein the shielded cable comprises a first wire, a second wire, and a shield surrounding the first and the second wires.

9. The MCC of claim 8 , wherein:
the first terminal block comprises a first output terminal, a second output terminal, and a third output terminal; and
the second terminal block comprises a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and a third input terminal.

10. The MCC of claim 9 , wherein:
the first wire is:
configured to connect to the first input terminal and the first output terminal; and
configured to carry a 24 VDC positive signal;

the second wire is:
configured to connect to the second input terminal and the second output terminal; and
configured to carry a 24 VDC common signal; and

the shield is connected to the third input terminal and the third output terminal.

11. The MCC of claim 6 , wherein the safety bus comprises:
a first channel comprising a first shielded cable configured to connect the first terminal block to the second terminal block and configured to convey a first safety signal of the one or more safety signals from the first terminal block to the second terminal block, wherein the first shielded cable comprises a first wire, a second wire, and a first shield surrounding the first wire and the second wire; and
a second channel comprising a second shielded cable configured to connect the first terminal block to the second terminal block and configured to convey a second safety signal of the one or more safety signals from the first terminal block to the second terminal block, wherein the second shielded cable comprises a third wire, a fourth wire, and a second shield surrounding the third wire and the fourth wire.

12. The MCC of claim 11 , wherein:
the first terminal block comprises: a first set of output terminals and a second set of output terminals; and
the second terminal block comprises a first set of input terminals, a second set of input terminals, a third set of output terminals, and a fourth set of output terminals.

13. The MCC of claim 12 , wherein:
the first wire is:
configured to connect to a first terminal of the first set of input terminals and a first terminal of the first set of output terminal; and
configured to carry a first 24 VDC positive signal;

the second wire is:
configured to connect to a second terminal of the first set of input terminals and a second terminal of the first set of output terminals; and
configured to carry a first 24 VDC common signal; and

the first shield is configured to connect to a third terminal of first set of input terminals and a third terminal of the first set of output terminals.

14. The MCC of claim 13 , wherein:
the third wire is:
configured to connect to a first terminal of the second set of input terminals and a first terminal of the second set of output terminals; and
configured to carry a second 24 VDC positive signal;

the fourth wire is:
configured to connect to a second terminal of the second set of input terminals and a second terminal of the second set of output terminals; and
configured to carry a second 24 VDC common signal;

the second shield is connected to a third terminal of second set of input terminals and a third terminal of the second set of output terminals;
the third set of output terminals is communicatively coupled to the one or more industrial automation devices and configured to convey the first safety signal to the one or more industrial automation devices; and
the fourth set of output terminals communicatively coupled to the one or more industrial automation devices and configured to convey the first safety signal to the one or more industrial automation devices.

15. An industrial device assembly, comprising:
a housing comprising:
a section comprising one or more units, wherein each of the one or more units comprises one or more industrial automation devices;
a safety distribution unit configured to:
communicatively couple to a safety device external to the industrial device assembly, wherein the safety device is configured to detect a presence of a person in an industrial automation system and output one or more safety signals indicative of the presence of the person; and
receive the one or more safety signals from the safety device; and

a safety bus comprising:
a first terminal block communicatively coupled to the safety distribution unit and configured to receive the one or more safety signals from the safety distribution unit and
a second terminal block communicatively coupled to the first terminal block and included in the section, wherein the second terminal block is configured to:
receive the one or more safety signals from the first terminal block; and
deliver the one or more safety signals to each unit of the one or more units.

16. The industrial device assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a motor control center that includes the safety distribution unit, the section, and the safety bus.

17. The industrial device assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
the one or more industrial automation devices comprise one or more starters, one or more drive

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Marques Roberto S
• Steinweg Calvin
• Newbern James K
• Dilgard Robert

Classifications

• G05B19/058

  Safety, monitoring · CPC title

• H02K11/30

  Structural association with control circuits or drive circuits · CPC title

• H02P29/024 Primary

  Detecting a fault condition, e.g. short circuit, locked rotor, open circuit or loss of load · CPC title