Cascade Safety Switches Voltage Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety switches in automation systems face challenges in efficient voltage supply and cabling complexity when monitoring multiple access points, leading to increased electrical strain and costly cabling demands.
Innovation Solution
A cascade of safety switches connected in series with a connection unit that includes a first circuit for signal forwarding and a second circuit for voltage reception and forwarding, allowing additional voltage supply without additional cabling, using a terminator to close the loop and ensure sufficient voltage distribution across all switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the output voltage is increased to ensure sufficient voltage supply to all safety switches in the cascade, then the voltage supply sufficiency is improved, but the electrical strain on the first safety switches becomes too large
Solution Approach 1:
The cascade of safety switches is divided into segments by introducing connection units between individual switches. Each connection unit acts as an independent feeding node that receives voltage from the previous safety switch and redistributes it to subsequent switches. This segmentation prevents the cumulative voltage drop and electrical strain that would otherwise affect all switches in a pure series configuration, allowing each segment to operate with adequate voltage while limiting the strain on any single switch.
2Reliability
If safety switches are connected in parallel to the voltage supply to ensure sufficient voltage, then the voltage supply is improved, but the cabling demand becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit merges the functions of signal transmission and voltage distribution into a single integrated component. By combining these functions, the patent eliminates the need for separate cabling for voltage supply to each safety switch, as the same conductor cores used for signal transmission also carry the voltage. This merging approach maintains adequate voltage supply while avoiding the complex and expensive parallel cabling infrastructure that would otherwise be required.
3Device complexity
If safety switches are connected in series to reduce cabling demand, then the cabling complexity is reduced, but the voltage distribution becomes insufficient for distant switches
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit serves as an intermediary component between safety switches in the series cascade. It receives the voltage signal from the upstream switch and actively redistributes it to downstream switches, compensating for the voltage drop that occurs over distance in a series configuration. This intermediary function allows the system to maintain the simplicity of series cabling while ensuring that even distant switches receive sufficient voltage for reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A cascade of safety switches includes safety switches for the monitoring of accesses of an automation system, at least one connection unit for the arrangement between two safety switches, and a terminator for the termination of the cascade of safety switches. Each safety switch has a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes conductor cores for transmitting signals and for receiving voltage. The second conductor includes conductor cores for receiving signals and for forwarding the voltage. The connection unit has a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is provided for receiving the signals of a subsequent safety switch and for forwarding the signals of the subsequent safety switch to an upstream safety switch and the second circuit is provided for connecting the connection unit to a voltage source and to a conductor core for receiving the voltage of the subsequent safety switch.