Modular Motor Starter Rail Bus for Scalable Drive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular switching devices for controlling electrical drives are not scalable in a simple and inexpensive manner and are difficult to wire.
Innovation Solution
A modular switching device with a base rail bus system that includes multiple bus connectors, a safety relay module, and a safe engine starter module, allowing for easy scaling and simplified wiring by using a common control signal for multiple secure engine starter modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional modular switching devices are used for controlling electric drives, then safety and control functionality are provided, but scalability is limited and wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into independent functional modules (safety relay module, motor starter modules) that can be individually selected and connected. Each module has standardized interfaces (bus connectors with module interfaces) that enable modular assembly, allowing the system to be scaled by adding or removing modules without redesigning the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus connectors are designed with universal interfaces that can connect multiple types of modules (safety relay module, motor starter modules) to a common control line and power supply lines. This universal interface design allows different modules to communicate through a standardized protocol, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining scalability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate control lines are used for each motor starter module, then individual control is achieved, but wiring complexity and installation effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control signals are merged into a single control line that is shared by all motor starter modules through the bus connectors. The safety relay module generates control signals that are distributed to multiple modules via this common control line, eliminating the need for separate control lines for each module and significantly reducing wiring complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus connectors act as intermediaries that facilitate signal distribution along the control line. They provide standardized connection points that enable the control signal to be transmitted from the safety relay module through the bus connectors to multiple motor starter modules, simplifying the control signal distribution architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If custom wiring configurations are implemented for different scaling requirements, then system adaptability is achieved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system architecture is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing modules to be added, removed, or repositioned on the mounting rail without requiring custom wiring configurations. The standardized bus connector interfaces enable plug-and-play module replacement, making the system adaptable to different scaling requirements while maintaining consistent installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus connectors are pre-configured with standardized interfaces and connection protocols before installation. This preliminary preparation of the modular architecture means that when modules need to be added or reconfigured, no custom wiring is required - modules can be directly connected to the pre-prepared bus connectors, significantly reducing installation time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a modular switch apparatus (10) for controlling at least one electric drive (120), wherein the modular switch apparatus (10) has a mounting rail bus system (80) having a control line (81) and two power supply lines (82, 83), a power supply device (20) and a safety relay module (30), which is designed to obtain a first control signal having a high level from a direct supply voltage applied to the two power supply lines (82, 83) and to supply the first control signal to the control line (81) via the first bus interface (50) if the emergency stop command device (40) has not been activated. Furthermore, at least one secure motor start module (60) is provided, which has a processing device (64) having an input, which can be electrically connected to the control line (81) via a bus interface (90). The processing device (64) is designed to evaluate a first control signal having a high level transmitted via the control line (81) and to provide control signals for controlling the at least two switch devices (101, 102).