Fail-Safe Power Control Apparatus for Transport Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport system safety systems, such as elevator systems, fail to detect potential failures early enough, leading to delayed intervention in dangerous situations, and they require a complex array of separate safety devices.
Innovation Solution
A fail-safe power control apparatus with dual controllers and a communication bus that monitors the motion of transport equipment, compares data, and independently activates braking devices to stop the system if a failure is detected, reducing the need for multiple safety devices and simplifying the safety system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate mechanical safety devices are replaced with electronic safety devices, then the regulatory compliance is improved, but the detection delay increases and system complexity remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety monitoring function with the power control apparatus by integrating a monitoring unit that directly observes power converter outputs. This merging eliminates the delay inherent in mechanical safety devices that only detect failures after they manifest as mechanical issues, enabling early detection at the electrical level while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring unit performs preliminary detection of failure conditions by continuously analyzing power converter outputs before actual failures occur. By detecting abnormal patterns early in the power conversion process, the system can trigger protective actions before the failure propagates to the motor or mechanical components, reducing detection delay while ensuring safety.
2Reliability
If multiple separate safety devices are used, then the safety coverage is improved, but the number of devices and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power control apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the primary control system and as the safety monitoring system. The monitoring unit within the power control apparatus performs safety functions that would traditionally require separate devices, thereby reducing the total number of safety devices while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage through integrated monitoring of power converter outputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring unit continuously monitors power converter outputs and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect failures early and trigger protective actions without requiring multiple independent safety devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining thorough safety monitoring through continuous electrical parameter analysis.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a fail-safe power control apparatus (3) for supplying power between an energy source (4) and the motor (5) of a transport system. The power control apparatus comprises a power supply circuit (6), which comprises at least one converter (7, 8) containing controllable change-over switches (32), and the power control apparatus comprises means (24) for controlling the converter change-over switches, a data transfer bus (10), at least two controllers (1, 2) adapted to communicate with each other, and a control arrangement (11) for controlling a first braking device, and possibly a control arrangement (43) for controlling a second braking device.