Drive Train Control Module for Safe State Checks and Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety measures in drive trains, particularly in rail vehicles, abruptly interrupt power supply to control modules without storing operating values or errors, leading to potential system malfunctions and reduced component lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a first control module that checks the state of a controlled device in response to a safety signal, allowing it to take safety measures only if necessary, enabling the device to store operating values and errors, and includes a detection module to verify the safety state using supply parameters like current or voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply is interrupted to bring controlled device into safety state, then safety requirement is met, but operating values and errors cannot be stored leading to system malfunctions and reduced component lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The control module checks whether the controlled device is already in the predetermined safety state before interrupting power supply. This preliminary check prevents unnecessary power interruptions and allows the control module to store operating values and errors before any potential shutdown, thereby preserving information while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module receives feedback about the current state of the controlled device and uses this information to decide whether power supply interruption is necessary. This feedback mechanism enables informed decision-making that balances safety requirements with information preservation, allowing the system to avoid abrupt shutdowns when the safety state is already achieved.
2Reliability
If power supply is interrupted without preparation, then controlled device enters safety state, but functional restart is compromised and component life expectancy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control module performs preliminary checks to determine if the controlled device is already in the predetermined safety state before executing power supply interruption. This prevents unnecessary shutdowns, allowing components to continue operating within their designed lifespan while still achieving the required safety state through less disruptive means.
3Reliability
If stronger safety measures like power supply interruption are applied, then safety state is enforced, but controlled device cannot store operating values leading to incorrect system reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The control module checks the current state of the controlled device before applying power supply interruption. This preliminary action enables the system to store operating values and errors in memory before any shutdown occurs, ensuring that functional restart can proceed correctly with complete information about the previous operating state.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module changes the parameter of power supply interruption from always being applied to conditionally applied based on the checked state. This parameter modification allows the system to preserve operating values by avoiding unnecessary interruptions while still enforcing safety states when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes: a first control module, which is configured for being operatively connected with a controlled device, the first control module being configured for: checking, in response to a safety signal, whether the controlled device is in a predetermined safety state; and taking at least one safety measure so as to bring the controlled device into the predetermined safety state if the checking shows that the controlled device is not in the predetermined safety state.