Apparatus for automated loop checking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080983-B2
Application number	US-202017024480-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2020
Priority date	Sep 26, 2019
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus is configured to be installed on a terminal block to make an electrical connection to at least one I/O loop. The apparatus includes a terminal section having at least one pair of electrical terminals. The electrical terminals are arranged to be connected to the terminal block and to the I/O loop. The apparatus further includes an electronic section electrically connected to the terminal section adapted to communicate with the I/O loop through the terminal section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to be installed on a terminal block and to make an electrical connection to at least one I/O loop, the apparatus comprising:
a terminal section having an electrical connector and at least one pair of electrical terminals, the electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the terminal block and to the at least one I/O loop;
an electronic section having an electrical connector connected to the terminal section connector arranged to communicate with the I/O loop through the terminal section, wherein the electronic section includes:
a wireless communication unit configured to receive an I/O loop check file from operating software located at a remote location, and
a processor configured to execute the I/O loop check file, testing the at least one I/O loop by applying test signals through the at least one pair of terminal pins connected to the terminal block; and

a latching arm configured to be manually operated to retain the apparatus to the terminal block.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic section further includes:
an I/O unit configurable to drive signals to simulate the specific I/O type of the I/O loop being tested; and
the test signals are applied to the at least one pair of terminal pins according to the I/O type.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the latching arm is configured to be manually operated to unlatch and separate the apparatus from the terminal block.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the terminal block further includes:
a plurality of terminal sockets connected to a plurality of I/O loops; and
the terminal section includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the plurality of terminal sockets of the terminal block and to the plurality of I/O loops.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the terminal block further includes a variety of specific terminal socket configurations and each terminal section includes a plurality of electrical sockets, each terminal socket configured to receive and install therein a specific electrical terminal adapted to be used with a specific terminal socket configuration.

6. An apparatus configured to be installed on a terminal block and to make an electrical connection to at least one I/O loop, the apparatus comprising:
a terminal section having an electrical connector and at least one pair of electrical terminals, the electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the terminal block and to the at least one I/O loop;
an electronic section having an electrical connector connected to the terminal section connector arranged to communicate with the I/O loop through the terminal section, wherein the electronic section includes:
a wireless communication unit configured to receive an I/O loop check file from operating software located at a remote location, and
a processor configured to execute the I/O loop check file, testing the at least one I/O loop by applying test signals through the at least one pair of terminal pins connected to the terminal block; and

a latch configured to be manually operated to retain the terminal section to the electronic section.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the electronic section further includes:
an I/O unit configurable to drive signals to simulate the specific I/O type of the I/O loop being tested; and
the test signals are applied to the at least one pair of terminal pins according to the I/O type.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the latch is configured to be manually operated to unlatch and separate the terminal section from the electronic section.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the terminal block further includes:
a plurality of terminal sockets connected to a plurality of I/O loops; and
the terminal section includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the plurality of terminal sockets of the terminal block and to the plurality of I/O loops.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the terminal block further includes a variety of specific terminal socket configurations and each terminal section includes a plurality of electrical sockets, each terminal socket configured to receive and install therein a specific electrical terminal adapted to be used with a specific terminal socket configuration.

11. An apparatus configured to be installed on a terminal block and to make an electrical connection to at least one I/O loop, the apparatus comprising:
a terminal section having at least one pair of electrical terminals, the electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the terminal block and to the at least one I/O loop; and
an electronic section electrically connected to the terminal section adapted to communicate with the I/O loop through the terminal section, wherein the electronic section includes:
a wireless communication unit configured to receive an I/O loop check file from operating software located at a remote location, and
a processor configured to execute the I/O loop check file, testing the at least one I/O loop by applying test signals through the at least one pair of terminal pins connected to the terminal block.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electronic section further includes:
an I/O unit configurable to drive signals to simulate the specific I/O type of the I/O loop being tested; and
the test signals are applied to the at least one pair of terminal pins according to the I/O type.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the terminal block further includes:
a plurality of terminal sockets connected to a plurality of I/O loops; and
the terminal section includes a plurality of electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the plurality of terminal sockets of the terminal block and to the plurality of I/O loops.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each terminal section is a modular terminal unit with each modular terminal unit including first and second electrical connectors that connect to and retain one modular terminal unit to another modular terminal unit to form a stack of modular terminal units, each modular terminal unit including a plurality of electrical terminals arranged to be connected to the plurality of terminal sockets of the terminal block and to the plurality of I/O loops.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electronic section further includes an electrical connector and each modular terminal unit further includes a third electrical connector, the third electrical connector arranged to receive and connect to the electronic section connector, connecting the electronic section to the stack of modular terminal units, the electronic section communicating with the plurality of I/O loops through the stack of modular terminal units.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the terminal block further includes a variety of specific terminal socket configurations and each terminal section includes a plurality of electrical sockets, each terminal socket configured to receive and install therein a specific electrical terminal adapted to be used with a specific terminal socket configuration.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the terminal block is located in a marshalling cabinet, a field termination assembly or a junction box.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc
• Uop Llc

Inventors

• Prabhakar Varun
• De Rahul
• Bhutia Karma
• H Ananda
• Didwani Rahul
• Balakrishna Vishwanath
• Pakimo Dawa

Classifications

• G06F9/463

  Program control block organisation · CPC title

• G06F9/30065

  Loop control instructions; iterative instructions, e.g. LOOP, REPEAT · CPC title

• H01R9/2491 Primary

  Terminal blocks structurally associated with plugs or sockets · CPC title

• G05B19/0425 Primary

  Safety, monitoring · CPC title

• G01R31/67 Primary

  Testing the correctness of wire connections in electric apparatus or circuits · CPC title