Safety Guard Interlock Reset Using Additional Release Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interlocking devices for movable safety guards face challenges in easy resetting after an additional release operation, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between device blockages and other control failures, necessitating tedious failure analysis before normal operation can resume.
Innovation Solution
An interlocking device with a locking unit, electric mover, additional release unit, sensor device, and evaluation unit that outputs distinct signals to differentiate between normal and additional release positions, facilitating troubleshooting and indicating the need for manual reset, thus simplifying maintenance and monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional release mechanism is added to manually release the locking element, then the safety function is improved by allowing emergency release, but the device complexity increases and the ability to discern failure causes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a sensor device to detect the position of the additional release unit and provide this information back to the control system. The control system can then distinguish between normal operation and additional release activation, enabling proper failure diagnosis without increasing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor device that mediates between the additional release unit and the control system. This sensor acts as a communication bridge, allowing the control system to understand the state of the release mechanism without direct mechanical coupling, thus reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If the interlocking device is blocked after additional release activation to prevent unsafe operation, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual reset requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the interlocking device to automatically reset itself after an additional release operation. The control system monitors the sensor signals and automatically restores normal operation once safety conditions are met, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining both safety and ease of operation.
3Measurement precision
If sensor devices are used to detect positions of locking and release units, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single sensor device that serves multiple functions: detecting the position of the locking element, detecting the position of the additional release unit, and providing feedback to the control system. This multi-functional approach achieves precise measurement without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An interlocking device for locking a movable safety guard has a locking unit, an electric mover, an additional release unit, a sensor device and an evaluation unit. The locking unit is movable between a locking position for interlocking the movable safety guard and a release position for releasing the movable safety guard and the mover is configured to move the locking unit between the locking position and the release position. The additional release unit is movable from a neutral position into an additional release position to move the locking unit from the locking position into the release position. The sensor device is configured to detect a position of the locking unit and a position of the additional release unit. The evaluation unit is configured to output a locking signal, a normal release signal, and an additional release signal.